Aberdeen Academy and Palmer Elementary schools are slated to close in 2027. There’s now a plan to replace them with a new state-of-the-art school on the Aberdeen Academy site that fall.
Back in November, a recommendation was made to replace North Park Elementary. But stakeholders expressed concern a new school there is too far north. This revised plan is a direct result of that feedback.
An analysis by GRPS of the 95-year-old Aberdeen building concluded that renovation costs would exceed 80% of the cost of building a new school. A separate analysis considered birthrate data from the Kent County Health Department as well as current student addresses which helped in deciding on the Aberdeen location for the new school.
Funding for construction of the new school would come from the voter-approved bond passed in November. It would also mark the first new school to be built in Grand Rapids northeast side since 1965. The board of education is expected to vote on the proposal in March.
In-person public feedback is welcome February 21st at 3:45pm at Palmer Elementary and February 27th at 6:30pm at Aberdeen Academy. You can also find an online feedback form at GRPS.org