MichiganRadio

GRPS To Eliminate 95 Teachers And More Than 30 Staff Members GRAND RAPIDS, MI (Michigan Radio) - The Grand Rapids Public Schools District will eliminate 95 teacher positions and about 30 additional staff positions next year. The district's board approved the changes last night, to close what they say is a $15 million budget shortfall.

It was a contentious board meeting, with teachers at times loudly complaining from the audience.

After the board approved the budget, teacher union president Paul Helder spoke. He said the district failed to include federal stimulus money in its budget projections. And he said the budget changes would unfairly affect students in alternative education.

"Guys, we gotta do better than this," Helder said to the board. "This is wrong. Deeply wrong."

Superintendent Bernard Taylor says no one is happy with the cuts.

"Who wouldn't be upset?" he said after the meeting. "But I hope that people understand ... how the lack of funds is really forcing our hands."

One board member spoke out to say she didn't believe the cuts will go far enough.

The district expects to have about $124,000 in its fund balance at the end of next year. Board member Jane Gietzen says that would only sustain the district for three hours.

"We have a responsibility as this board to approve a budget that sustains this district long term," she said. "And this is frighteningly close to not sustaining the district, from my perspective."

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