Charter Battle Heats Up In MI

Heated debate over second GRPS charter

Board members delayed a decision but debated vigorously Monday night whether to take a step toward creating Grand Rapids Public Schools' second charter school. The group that helps run Grand Rapids University Prep Academy, or GRUPA, wants to turn the program into a charter school. It's currently a GRPS "center of innovation," but school leaders say they need a charter so they can keep a steady staff amid layoffs.