Grand Rapids — Grand Rapids Public Schools has laid out a timeline for the final steps in the search for its next superintendent.
The district announced Tuesday that its search firm, Ray & Associates, has identified six semifinalists out of a pool of 35 candidates who applied for the position. The names of the candidates are being kept confidential until finalists are selected.
Ray & Associates will conduct a virtual screening of the semifinalists on Saturday, Oct. 25.
The school board will select a group of finalists when it meets at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 26, at the GRPS Franklin campus, 1331 MLK Jr. St. SE in Grand Rapids.
Finalists will visit the district on Wednesday, Oct. 28, to tour schools and programs before interviewing with the school board during a special meeting scheduled for 5 p.m. that same day at GRPS University, 1400 Fuller Ave. NE.
The board plans to make a decision that night about who its next leader will be.
Board interviews will be open to the public. The interviews will also be livestreamed by the district on its YouTube page.
The new superintendent will take over for Leadriane Roby, who earlier in the year announced her plan to retire on June 30, 2027, at the end of her current contract year. Roby has been with the district since 2020.
Following Roby’s announcement, the district sought community input to build a candidate profile for the search, including traits and characteristics stakeholders would like to see in the next superintendent.
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