The Grand Rapids Public Schools (GRPS) Board of Education met earlier this month to vote on the sale of two vacant school buildings, Alexander Elementary School and Stocking Elementary School. It approved the sale of Stocking to Commonwealth Development Corporation (CDC), contradicting a previous recommendation from the district.
During the board’s May 11 meeting, proposals for future use were presented to the board. The West Grand Neighborhood Organization (WGNO) and CDC, a Wisconsin-based organization specializing in economic, workforce and housing development, were the top two contenders for Stocking Elementary. The district’s final recommendation was to sell Alexander to LifeQuest Urban Outreach and Stocking to WGNO.
According to Annette Vandenberg, executive director of WGNO, she emailed the proposal to the board for review and to address any remaining questions they had about the proposed Stocking Community Hub. Vandenberg stated she had not heard any concerns from the board during the 30 days that followed…