GRPS Looking To Hire 200 People for Various Positions

Classes start at Grand Rapids Public Schools in 3 weeks and the district is looking to fill over 200 positions. The district will hold a job fair on Aug. 14 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at GRPS University at 1400 Fuller Avenue.

About 1/3 of the openings in the district are teaching positions. Other openings include jobs in administrative roles, food services, grounds and operations and child care. For a complete list of openings, click here.  GRPS spokesperson John Helmholdt told WOOD TV,

"We’ll be doing on the spot hiring if the individual meets certain qualifications. We’re going to do everything we can to continue to recruit as well as retain. That’s part of this, you had a number of individuals in the public-school world who said you know, I need to take a break. The COVID and virtual learning — that took its toll."

The school district is set to make a mask policy announcement this week. Officials say they are waiting to receive instruction from federal, state, county officials. Some parents would prefer information regarding mask policies sooner, however GRPS stated they are reluctant to put it out and then pull it back if it wasn’t aligned with guidance of those health officials. Helmholdt added,

"Having talked to the teachers, having talked to the kids, everyone is ready to be back with some type of normalcy."

GRPS is Michigan’s eighth-largest public-school district and the third-largest employer in the City of Grand Rapids, serving nearly 15,000 students with over 2,800 employees.