The Grand Rapids Board of Education presented a wage offer to the Grand Rapids Education Association, the union representing 1,500 educators.
The proposal includes an additional $4 million investment for the 2025-26 school year, which district leaders say equals an average salary raise of 4.5%.
GRPS spokesperson Luke Stier acknowledged that attracting and retaining teachers is an issue.
“This proposal is part of addressing that, to increase salaries. We’re also doing a lot of other work providing development opportunities for our staff and we’re proud of in the last two years seeing the number of vacancies in our district cut in more than half and are excited to continue that work.”
But union president Matt Marlow says the 4.5% is the cost to the district not the amount teacher’s salaries would increase, and it’s not enough to make GRPS competitive with other districts.
“Basically we would need a 13.9 % average salary increase just to put GRPS teachers in line with last year's Kent County average. We are dead last - 21 out of 21 - as far as salary in the county.”
District leaders also note negotiations come at an uncertain time for public school funding, amid federal budget cuts and with no budget deal yet from state lawmakers.
As talks continue, staff will work under the terms of the previous contract which expired in June.
The next official negotiation meeting is August 20.
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