Ever wondered how decisions about Grand Rapids Public Schools (GRPS) are made? School board meetings are where policies, budgets, and other major issues affecting students, teachers, and families are discussed. Whether you’re a parent, student, educator, or community member, understanding these meetings is key to making your voice heard.

The GRPS Board of Education meets multiple times a month, but not all meetings function the same way. Here’s a breakdown of the key meetings and how you can engage:

• When? 2nd Monday of each month at 6:30PM
• Where? The auditorium at the Rev. Lyman S. Parks Administration Building (1331 Martin Luther King Jr. Street SE), and occasionally held at schools.
• Who’s there? GRPS board members, Dr. Roby (superintendent), and senior staff members.  Community members are welcome to attend.
• Discussion: Whatever is on the agenda for that meeting, which can include everything from district celebrations to department reports to financial approvals.
• Public Comment? YES - But remember:
  
  • One opportunity at the beginning of the meeting
  • Covers agenda items and non-agenda items- you may only speak once
  • You must fill out a comment card.  Students get to speak first, so be sure to check that box if applicable!
  • If more than 20 cards are submitted, comment length will be shortened from three to two minutes per person.

• When? 4th Monday of each month at 5:30PM, and sometimes on the 3rd Monday if there is a lot to discuss in one month
• Where? Franklin Campus (1331 Martin Luther King Jr. Street SE), usually in Library 112
• Who’s there? GRPS board members, Dr. Roby (superintendent), and senior staff members.  Community members are welcome to attend.
• Discussion: Focuses on departmental reports and items the board wishes to discuss in detail.  These discussions tend to be less formal than at regular board meetings.
• Public Comment? YES - But remember:
  
  • Only at the beginning
  • You must fill out a comment card

• When? 2nd Monday of each month at 4:30 PM
• Where? Franklin Campus (1331 Martin Luther King Jr. Street SE), usually in Library 112
• Who’s there? Board members on the facilities committee (for 2025, Trustees Williams, Melton, Wade, and Williamson), Alex Smart (Executive Director of Facilities & Operations), Larry Johnson (Chief of Staff & Executive Director of Public Safety & School Security), and other staff as needed.  Community members are welcome to attend.
• Discussion: Facilities-related discussions, including regular updates on bond construction projects.
• Public Comment? YES - But remember:
  
  • Only at the beginning
  • You must fill out a comment card

• When? 4th Monday of each month at 5:00 PM
• Where? The auditorium at the Rev. Lyman S. Parks Administration Building (1331 Martin Luther King Jr. Street SE)
• Who’s there? Board members on the facilities committee (for 2025, Trustees Williams, Melton, Moreno, and Williamson) and Rhonda Kribbs (GRPS CFO), and other staff as needed.  Community members are welcome to attend.
• Discussion: Budget reviews, financial statements, and purchasing decisions
• Public Comment? YES - But remember:
  
  • Only at the beginning
  • You must fill out a comment card

For the full board meeting schedule, check here: GRPS Board Meeting Schedule, and view agendas here.  Agendas are legally required to be posted at least 18 hours before the meeting.

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You can share your thoughts and advocate for an issue at Regular and Special Board Meetings. Here’s what you need to know:

• Fill out a public comment card at the meeting.  Complete the whole thing, and if you are a student, be sure to check the box.  They will allow you to go first!
• Each person gets three minutes to speak.  This is sometimes changed to two minutes if there is a large number of folks signed up to give public comment.
• Interpretation services are available upon request.
• Want help preparing your statement? Use our Ed Justice Script Builder to organize your thoughts.
• Board members will not respond to you during the public comment period, but they sometimes make reference to specific comments during their closing remarks at the end of the meeting.
• You can email all the board members at once using board@grps.org, and you can learn more about individual board members and email specific members here.  
• The district created a specific communications protocol about the order of folks to contact with issues here.  It can be useful to note in your comments who you have already spoken to about your concern, if applicable.    

The GRPS Board of Education, made up of nine publicly elected members, makes decisions that impact students, teachers, and families. Speaking at a board meeting can influence policies on school funding, staffing, curriculum, and more.  You have a unique perspective- one that school board members might not be aware of, so sharing your ideas is important!

Whether you're advocating for better teacher pay, improved school facilities, or changes to academic programs, your input can shape the future of GRPS.