Grand Rapids School Board President Senita Lenear and Superintendent Bernard Taylor share next steps with reporters in front of the district's administration building Tuesday.
The Grand Rapids public school board will consider whether their superintendent should continue with the district. Superintendent Bernard Taylor was passed up for job at another school district today. This is the second time this year Taylor was considered as a finalist for another job.
The Cleveland Metropolitan school district selected an internal candidate to be the next CEO at a special meeting this morning. Grand Rapids Superintendent Dr. Bernard Taylor was a finalist for the opening.
It was the second time this year Grand Rapids Public Schools’ Superintendent Dr. Bernard Taylor became a finalist for a job opening at another school district.
When the board disussed the policy in January, some members suggested they needed to screen members of the public. Maureen Slade (middle) gestured at security guards at the meeting, 'I don't think we have anything to fear from our public.'
The Grand Rapids Public School Board has a unique policy. People who want to talk about something that’s not already on the agenda must sign up 5 days ahead of time, and explain to officials what they want to discuss.
Opponents of the policy say it intimidates people from expressing their concerns.
A special committee recommended the board get rid of the advance sign up requirement. But the comments will not be televised.
This fall Grand Rapids Public Schools will be able to avoid cuts to transportation, art and music. But Michigan’s third largest school district will eliminate close to 140 positions as part of a plan to deal with a projected $22 million dollar budget shortfall.
The vote for the budget was unanimous, in sharp contrast to last year. That was a huge relief for Superintendent Bernard Taylor, for a moment anyway.
Michigan Radio's Lester Graham moderated a panel discussion looking into the current state of education in Michigan (K-12 and higher education) at the Mackinac Policy Conference last week.
They explored how education funding can be improved in the state; and the potential impacts of Governor Rick Snyder's reforms on school districts, teachers and students in the state.
You can watch the discussion below.
Education Panel: Cutting the Costs of Educating Kids
Hundreds of people banned from the University of Michigan campus may soon be able to walk again freely on the Ann Arbor campus. More than 2 thousand people landed on U of M’s lifetime campus ban list during the past decade for a variety of offenses.
In the past, if you landed on the list, you had little chance of ever getting permission to walk again on the Ann Arbor campus.
There were more reporters and school officials than members of the public at a public hearing on Grand Rapids Public Schools budget for the 2011-2012 school year.
Grand Rapids Public Schools is facing a $22 million dollar budget deficit for next school year. That’s the largest shortfall Michigan’s third biggest school district has faced.
The plan to close the gap includes eliminating close to 140 positions and use $5 million in savings. Despite that, no one showed up to speak at a public hearing on the school budget Thursday night.