Heated debate over second GRPS charter

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - Board members delayed a decision but debated vigorously Monday night whether to take a step toward creating Grand Rapids Public Schools' second charter school.

The group that helps run Grand Rapids University Prep Academy, or GRUPA, wants to turn the program into a charter school. It's currently a GRPS "center of innovation," but school leaders say they need a charter so they can keep a steady staff amid layoffs.

Superintendent Bernard Taylor is asking the board to approve a request for proposals to see if anyone -- the GRUPA board included -- wants to run a charter in the current GRUPA building at the northwest corner of College Avenue and Lafayette Street NE.

Taylor said such a move would not force the district to create a new charter school, but some critics on the board questioned that.

Critics also questioned selling the building to the GRUPA board for as little as $1, though district administrators stressed that GRUPA would spend millions to upgrade the building.

The superintendent said if the board does not embrace a charter in this case, someone will do it for the board on a wider scale.

"School reform is ugly hard work," Taylor told board members. "But where you see the most reform going on around the country -- I hate to say this -- it's not happening with elected school boards. It's not."

Board member Wendy Falb said a report provided to her by the district showed that layoffs were not the only reason for staff turnover at GRUPA.

And echoing a concerned raised by a GRPS Montessori program backer, Falb said she feared the district may be setting up competition for itself.

"I felt that very early on with the formation of GRUPA. It's a fantastic methodology and program. Great setup," Falb said, but noted, "it's very similar to Montessori."

Students who attend a charter school -- even if it's chartered by a school district -- are not a part of the district's student count. And student count determines state funding. Board member Maureen Quinn Slade said she wanted to see the financial impact of the move.

After a series of questions, board President Senita Lenear said they could have been asked by board members at least three or four months prior.

"Now, here we are in the 11th hour, trying to make a decision, and here we have roadblocks being put up," she said. Later, Lenear added, "I mean no offense to anyone but really, will any of this information make a difference?"

The board could decide whether to issue a request for charter proposals as soon as next month.