Editor’s note: In the first-ever State of Our Schools Address, Dr. Bernard Taylor, the superintendent of Grand Rapids Public Schools, blasted short-sighted conventional wisdom and said the state of GRPS is strong and getting stronger. Below are excerpts of his remarks delivered publicly on February 9, 2008.
A Global Perspective
The future growth and success of Grand Rapids Public Schools (GRPS) is not just an “education issue” or a “city issue.” It is a regional issue. It is an issue about economic development, workforce development and global competitiveness. It is about improving the quality of life in our region. It is an issue that every person, family, employer, and institution in the region has a stake in. The challenges facing GRPS are not solved solely by our teachers, our principals, our schools, or the district as a whole. They are going to be solved together, in public-private partnership – as a community with common goals and common interests. Doing what is best for our children and the region as a whole must be our first priority.
Welcome to GRPS
As a school district, GRPS offers the single largest, most diverse selection of educational choices in all of West Michigan. GRPS has developed a series of programs and school choices to meet the needs of every student and every family – regardless of age, income, or ability.
Parents who want children in school year round – welcome to GRPS – we have several year round schools to choose from. Parents who like the idea of students wearing school uniforms to bring focus on studies and improve discipline, we have several schools with uniforms. Parents who want your student in an advanced college preparatory school our college prep school, City Middle High, is the best in the region. And we will have another college prep choice coming this fall.
Parents who want their student to become an engineer, our pre-engineering program – in partnership with Davenport University – is the best in the region. Parents who want their student to be a nurse or a doctor, our Small School on Health Sciences is the regional epicenter for secondary education in health sciences located next to the Medical Mile. This school is partnering with the top medical institutions in the region.
Parents who like the Montessori model of instruction, we have the only K-12 Montessori program in Michigan, one of only a few in the entire nation. Parents who are seeking to enroll your student early, welcome to some of the finest pre-school programs anywhere. If you want day-long kindergarten, while it’s not mandatory, this school district provides day-long kindergarten. Parents who want their children to learn the fastest growing language in America, we have the most comprehensive Spanish language immersion program in the region at Southwest Community Campus.
Parents who want students to have a hands-on, experiential education and get outside of the classroom, there are no other programs in the state like Zoo School and Blandford. Parents who want to ensure their student is prepared for the real world and challenges of the new global economy – welcome to GRPS – with 70 countries represented, 49 languages, there is no other school district in West Michigan more representative of the global economy or real world than GRPS.
We are proud of our diversity. We are proud of our school choices and opportunities. We are proud of our teachers and all our employees who make things happen. And we are proud of our accomplishments and we have many to celebrate.
Presidents to Prize Fighters
Our students and graduates from GRPS have gone on to accomplish great things. When one of our teachers says to a student “you can grow up to be whatever you want – you can even be President of the United States.” We can point one of our own GRPS students - President Gerald R. Ford - as a proof.
Our graduates have gone on to become award winning actresses like Gillian Anderson. CEOs of major corporations like Hank Meijer of Meijer Inc. Award winning artists like Paul Collins. Award winning composers like Clare Fischer. Internationally renowned gospel performers like Rev. Dr. Marvin Sapp. The best pound for pound boxer in the world - Floyd Mayweather, Jr. Pioneers of industry breakthroughs in green manufacturing – like Tim Morris, a graduate of Union High School who is changing the exhibit industry with the first green-built exhibit display system – and who also donated the signs you see on stage today. There are so many successful GRPS graduates, we could never name them all.
Shrewd Moves
Over the last eight years, Grand Rapids Public Schools has worked to “right size” the district’s finances and implement sweeping instructional and administrative reforms. We cut $60 million from our operating budget. We closed or consolidated 20 schools. We privatized bussing and substitute teachers. We cut administrative positions at the central office and building level saving more than $1 million. We re-organized school leadership, looked at school improvement programming, and we are complying with No Child Left Behind.
These have been tough times. We have made some difficult decisions. And our teachers and staff are doing a lot more with a lot less. The taxpayers and residents in the City of Grand Rapids and the entire region should be proud of these efforts.
Future Oriented
I am very confident about the future of Grand Rapids Public Schools. There is a level of energy, momentum, and community focus unlike anything I have ever experienced in all my years as an educator.
As you can see – we have come a long way. We have been good stewards of the taxpayers dollars. We have made difficult decisions and significant cuts and reforms to “rightsize” the district’s finances. We are using bold and innovative approaches to improving education. We are incorporating cutting-edge instructional reforms. We are embracing and working to foster public-private partnership. We have safe and secure schools and are working hard to make them even safer. We have bold new ideas and approaches.
We have many challenges, but there is great hope and opportunity for the future. I call on every individual, every family, and every employer in greater Grand Rapids to join us – to support us in our on-going efforts to improve opportunities for our students. Take part in the transformation of Grand Rapids Public Schools. We are on the brink of a “breakthrough” and with your help and support we can ensure every child succeeds. GRPS is still My Choice. Make it your choice.
Click
here to watch Dr. Taylor’s State of Our Schools Address.
Dr. Bernard Taylor is the superintendent of Grand Rapids Public Schools.
Photographs of Bernard Taylor by Brian Kelly - All Rights Reserved