Grand Rapids Public Schools hopes to be among the first districts in Michigan to receive new state grant money to fund smaller high schools.

The district plans to submit applications Friday, 24 Hour News 8 has learned.

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Grand Rapids school administrators and the teachers union have formally agreed on a fact-finder — a state-paid negotiator who would look at the district’s books and issue a non-binding report on a new teachers contract — but that person still won’t be available until spring. (more…)

Lots going on at GRPS tonight — in light of a new offer, the board is putting off a decision on the sale of the former Lexington school building, it did vote on Houseman renovations and there are plenty of announcements of new money for preschool programs, Chavez Elementary and the arts. And another note on the negotiations for a teacher contract. More below. (more…)

GRPS has offered teachers a new deal — but the union president doesn’t see much new to like.

Still, administrators cite the fact that both sides came together on naming a “fact-finder” a sign of progress.

They agreed on a state-funded, independent fact-finder early last week, according to GRPS adminstrators. But the fact-finder they selected won’t be available until next spring. (more…)

GRPS administrators say they will announce a new public-private partnership Wednesday morning alongside Bob Vander Weide, the president and CEO of the Orlando Magic. (more…)

If you see a school-aged student out of school on this fall’s state student “count day,” GRPS has two phone numbers you can call.

It’s just one step West Michigan’s largest school district is taking to make sure as many students are in their seats as possible when the state takes its twice annual student count. (more…)

The start of the 2008-09 regular school year brings with it the start of new school programs and some new school bulidings.

At GRPS, the new Dickinson Elementary building is open alongside significantly renovated Burton and Kent Hills buildings. And the district’s old Vandenberg Elementary building, at Lafayette Avenue and Wealthy Street SE, now houses the Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy (GRUPA). The middle and high school — accepting sixth- and seventh-graders this year — is modeled after a college prep program in Detroit that administrators say has been very successful.

The Grand Rapids area’s first charter high school opened its doors Tuesday as well. Administrators at Grand River Preparatory Academy, on 52nd Street just east of Division Avenue in Kentwood, say they plan to build the school around technology.

I’ll be at the school board meeting tonight. More here after that.

Tony