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Feedback sought for new school at Aberdeen Academy site

Grand Rapids — Grand Rapids Public Schools is recommending that a new elementary school be built at the site of the current Aberdeen Academy at 928 Aberdeen St. NE.

In a release from GRPS, the district stated the new school would open in fall 2027, replacing Aberdeen Academy and Palmer Elementary, both of which are slated to close that year as part of a district-wide reconsolidation effort.

The recommendation was made in response to feedback received in late 2023 as part of the Reimagine GRPS With Us! facilities master plan. The Reimagine plan originally called for a new school to go up at the North Park Montessori site, but that plan was amended when the community made it clear that North Park wasn’t the most ideal location.

The district stated in the release that constructing a new school makes fiscal sense, as the cost of renovating Aberdeen would be more than 80% of the cost of a new build project.

Construction would be funded using dollars from the district’s $305 million bond, which was approved in November 2023.

GRPS will host two opportunities for the public to provide feedback on the recommendation: one at 3:45 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 21, at Palmer Elementary, 309 Palmer St. NE; and one at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 27, at Aberdeen.

Those unable to attend are invited to offer their thoughts using this online feedback form

The Board of Education is expected to vote on the matter in March. If the new building is approved, it would be the first new school to be built in the northeast quadrant of the district since 1965.

Read more from Grand Rapids: 
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Riley Kelley
Riley Kelley
Riley Kelley is a reporter covering Cedar Springs, Grand Rapids, East Grand Rapids and Sparta school districts. An award-winning journalist, Riley spent eight years with the Ludington Daily News, reporting, copy editing, paginating and acting as editor for its weekly entertainment section. He also contributed to LDN’s sister publications, Oceana’s Herald-Journal and the White Lake Beacon. His reporting on issues in education and government has earned accolades from the Michigan Press Association and Michigan Associated Press Media Editors. Riley’s early work in journalism included a stint as an on-air news reporter for WMOM Radio, and work on the editorial staff of various student publications. Riley is a graduate of Grand Valley State University. He originally hails from western Washington.

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