Grand Rapids Public Schools Superintendent Teresa Weatherall Neal delivered her annual ‘State of Our Schools’ address Thursday evening, highlighting many of the accomplishments the school district has made under her leadership over the past five years.
“I’ve said it takes a village, and it does. We united behind common goals here in Grand Rapids five and a half years ago. It wasn’t the best of times in the Grand Rapids Public School District, but one thing we did know—we knew that we were going to come back and we knew that we would be the best,” Neal said to an audience of around 200 who turned out for the event.
The crowd applauded Neal when the speech turned to the GRPS graduation rate.
“Graduation rates are up 50 percent over the last five years. 50 percent, you guys. Amazing,” she said.
Neal also said that due to the GRPS Transformation Plan, for the first time in a long time, the school district is looking up.
“But something I am really pleased about—and that is enrollment. We’ve increased enrollment. That small piece of information is huge in an urban district.”
Neal ended her State or Our Schools address by announcing a $17 million renovation at struggling Ottawa Hills High School.
“But I want to close by talking about something that’s near and dear. And that is the major investment at Ottawa Hills High School. We are going to have a new school, it is our college preparation center as well as a career center at Ottawa Hills High School," Neal said.
"We are investing $17 million dollars in order to create this center. Young people will go to school for five years and walk away with an associate’s degree, partnering with Grand Rapids Community College. That is more than providing hope. That’s a game changer for children.”
