Grand Rapids Public Schools announced today the successful sale of $4,830,000 million in tax-exempt bonds that was directly purchased by PNC Bank through a competitive process. The district will use the proceeds to refinance its existing 2002 debt, which generates savings totaling $726,332 that will be realized over the next 10 years. 

The district will now pay 1.79% interest rate on the 2012 bond and replaces an approximate interest rate of 5% on the 2002 debt.  The 2002 debt was used to finance the construction of an addition and furnishings at Southwest Community Campus at 801 Oakland, S.W. Grand Rapids.  Southwest Community Campus, one of Grand Rapids Public Schools’ theme schools, houses a well established two way immersion (English/Spanish) program.

Last year, only six schools in the region had a 0.6 point or greater gain on the ACT composite scores. This year, three Grand Rapids Public Schools – Creston, Union and City High – rank among the schools with the most significant gains in the ACT composite scores.

A half point or greater gain may not seem like much, but in the education world steeped in assessments with schools judged by their test scores, a 0.5 gain is significant and notably higher than the average. For Union High School, the 0.6 gain they earned has even greater significance as they continue to implement the necessary reforms to get off the state’s so-called 5% list. Union High earned a 0.6 gain, Creston a 0.6 gain, and City High a 0.5 gain. The average gains typically are around 0.2 or 0.3 points. Overall, the district’s composite score remained flat, but have steadily risen from 15.6 in 2007 to 16.9 in 2012.

by Emberly Vick in OPINION

Attendees of a community conversation asked questions about how we value: are they treated children equally and are we prioritizing their needs?

What letter grade would you give the statewide education system?

What letter grade would you give the local education system?

These were two inquiries asked during an open community dialogue on Wednesday June 14. The small community conversation was held in the Congress Elementary School’s gymnasium.