GRPS sees uptick in homeless students, Lexington school sold, union says it will address safety itself, strange walk-fellows — GRPS Notes 11/17
November 17th, 2008 at 6:47 pm by Tony Tagliavia under News
Nearly 500 students in class in Grand Rapids Public Schools have been identified as homeless this school year, administrators announced Monday. That’s significantly higher than the figure at this point last school year. Details on that, the sale of the former Lexington school property and a new union pledge to address safety round out the GRPS Notes for November 17th.
“We’re surprised that we’re this high when we had 1,100 all of last school year,” said Teresa Neal, an executive assistant to GRPS Superintendent Bernard Taylor, citing the 485 homeless students identified as homeless in this year.
“Those are the ones we know about. There’s probably a lot more of them,” board member Amy McGlynn said.
Board member David Allen said the numbers indicate it’ll be a difficult year, noting that the coming months are often the toughest for families struggling with homelessness.
Administrators discussed the situation after ERA Network Real Estate of Kalamazoo donated 1,000 shoes, slippers and boots for the students. They will be distributed through the district’s homeless office along with the Hispanic Center and In The Image.
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The GRPS board Monday night voted to sell the former Lexington school property to a neighborhood organizer who wants to turn it into a community center.
The building, on Lexington Avenue NW between Fulton Street and Lake Michigan Drive, will be sold to Anna Marie Adema on the condition that she comes up with the $690,000 offered for the property by January 15.
Adema made the offer the day the board was set to sell the property to an Ann Arbor-based developer who planned to turn the former school into apartments with Grand Valley State University students as likely tenants. She and other neighbors expressed concern about adding rental units to a neighborhood they say already has plenty. Adema’s plan is to create a “multi-denominational” community center for all ages, but she wouldn’t elaborate on what services the center would offer.
She has suggested in the past that a health clinic was needed in the neighborhood.
If Adema fails to get the funds needed to make the purchase, the Ann Arbor developer’s offer will be honored.
The offer lists the purchaser as Adema and “an entity to be formed,” but Adema won’t identify who her associates are in the venture.
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Teachers union President Paul Helder told the board his union, the Grand Rapids Education Association, will take on safety issues itself. Helder said members and leaders are talking about a strategy that could involve going door-to-door, talking to students and parents about discipline problems and proper behavior, in light of what he sees as ongoing safety and security issues in GRPS facilities.
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On a lighter note, despite the ongoing disagreement between Helder and some district leaders, board President Catherine Mueller invited the union leader to be her walking partner in the upcoming Turkey Trot to raise money for GRPS athletics.
“At the risk of sounding like a complete dork, believe it or not, I’m going to have to check with my mom,” Helder told Mueller. “We’ll say it’s a date but we won’t probably call it that.”
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Your thoughts on these developments?
Tony
Tags: Amy McGlynn, Anne Marie Adema, community center, David Allen, Grand Rapids Public Schools, GREA, GRPS, health clinic, homeless, homeless students, lexington school, Michigan Schools, safety, school safety, school security
Why not take some of these schools they’re closing down and make them into temporary housing for these family’s? At least this could give everyone a secure feeling of well being (and keeping warm). There is no reason in this day and age a child should be classified as homeless…
Tonight’s GRPS Board of Ed meeting left me wondering,”What in the world did we accomplish here, tonight?”
While the disturbing issue of homelessness around our entire country continues to exist, our BOE spoke heartfelt sentiments concerning our GRPS students and their families. Once again, I left wondering, “So, what did any of that accomplish?”
As a teacher, I see first hand those that have and those that have not. Teachers and some administration over-extend themselves to make up for, to give to those that have not. The work of feeding, clothing, enriching, etc. is a never ending process. Throughout history there have been those in need. Those of us that are able, are supposed to give and care for those in need. I heard no plans to contribute, mandate finances, change or add any programs for those in need. I heard pleas to the public, anecdotes about students, and stories of thanksgiving. Not one plan was made to contribute from Dr. Taylor or the BOE.
I bring all of this up in light of the irony concerning district finances, and the tenor of tonight’s meeting. While messages of peace, love, tender thoughts, prayers and humanity were touted, Dr. Taylor (as he insisted on being addressed), verbally splayed open a Grand Rapids citizen that approached the BOE to discuss environmentally friendly products of some kind. The gentleman was never able to address his business with the BOE due to a slip of the tongue (in which many of us felt was an innocent social faux pas). The citizen referred to a high ranking administrator as the finance girl. He obviously hadn’t done his homework and was not astute in BOE protocol. This sent Dr. Taylor into a public temper-tantrum, meltdown. Instead of handling the well meaning gentleman in a way that would be honoring of a strong, self-assured, stable leader, Dr. Taylor launched into a demeaning soliloquy about the apparent lack of respect and protocol when addressing people with “titles.”
He berated the guest, the audience, the City of Grand Rapids, possibly West Michigan for not being respectful of titles. After minutes of his social tongue lashing, Dr. Taylor apologized to the BOE if he had misspoken, but felt it necessary to straighten out this issue. “It has to stop, and it has to stop now!”
BOE President Mueller attempted to speak productively to the guest citizen, but all was lost due to the inappropriate nature of Dr. Taylor’s demand for respect.
What in the world was that?
Proverbs 16:18: “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”
Dr. Taylor sounds like some of the people in the Belding School district. They all want respect from everyone but I thought you had to earn respect before you get it. I’ve seen Taylor on TV and he sounds to me like a whiner. Does he have any idea how to run such a large school district. I wish all in Grand Rapids good luck and my prayers.
The sad truth about the title respect issue is true…If anyone has a PHD, in business and in public settings… that person is refered to as Doctor…now if a person does not know a person has a PHD, calling him/her by Mr/Mrs/Miss is ok unless the person corrects them or if the person allows you to call them something different. But, if it is as you say …he went over the top………It should be noted that calling a finance manager a girl is belittling and disrespectful, slip or no slip of the tongue…it implies immaturity/lack of knowledge….disrespect is a serious issue in our culture…its a major issue on how it effects children and how they think of themselves and how they treat others.
Now as far as the homeless school children…what can a school board do about them???…School Boards/system were created to teach the children…now as mandated by the State Board..sorry but housing/clothing/feeding is not part of it…some programs such a free and reduced lunches were created/funded by the State to help poor students. The sad fact is that the school board can only try to assist the students in getting information of governmental programs for assistance….. or find outside financing/assistance….anything else could bring up legal issues with improper use of funds…it sounds as if this problem will last awhile…nobody is allowed to have the time nor the $$$$ to fix any thing anymore.
I just came upon the Monday night board meeting on TV and found it quite amusing and yet alarming. “Dr” Taylor’s response was immature, over the top and egocentric at best. There were two faux pas by two separate people on titles. It was obvious to me that both cases were accidental and not malicious by any means. A simple correction would have served everyone well. It was embarrassing to me as a citizen of GR that this man is in charge of our schools and students. I have often heard of stories of such tirades but seeing is believing. “Dr” Taylor – You earn respect. Do not command it.