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GRCS Transportation Update

GRCS Transportation Update

Dear Grand Rapids Christian Schools Parents:

It is hard to believe that school starts in less than two weeks. We are looking forward to having students on our campuses again.

Below are important updates relative to bus transportation services for the 2020-2021 school year, including information about our new Director of Grand Rapids Christian Schools (GRCS) Transportation, adjustments to who is eligible to receive GRCS transportation, and notification of decisions made by Grand Rapids Public (GRPS) and Rockford Public (RPS) Schools in light of these two public schools delaying the start of school reopening for in-person instruction.

Welcome Tim Hoving, GRCS Director of Transportation

We are pleased to announce that Tim Hoving, former Building Manager at Grand Rapids Christian Middle School, has been appointed to lead GRCS’ transportation department. June DeGraff, who served as our transportation supervisor for the past 10 years, recently announced her resignation in order to begin a new position at Ada Christian School. Tim began his new role on Monday, August 3. He and former transportation supervisor Joan Quist will work alongside each other to ensure a smooth transition and start to the school year.

GRCS Transportation Update

Adjustments to Grand Rapids Christian Schools bus service have been made which will impact who is eligible to receive GRCS bussing to and from school effective with the start of this school year.

Over the past several years, students who lived within a one-mile radius from the GRCS Administrative Office, located at 2400 Plymouth SE, were not eligible to receive GRCS bussing. This year, the radius has been increased from one mile to two miles, which decreases the number of students for whom GRCS transportation is available.

Below is a map that indicates the neighborhoods that fall within the two-mile radius to assist you in determining whether or not your child will be eligible for GRCS bus service. If you are uncertain about whether or not you reside within or outside of the two-mile radius, you are encouraged to either:

  • Contact Tim Hoving or Joan Quist at the email or phone number indicated below, or
  • Utilize either MapQuest or Google Maps to confirm the distance between your home address and 2400 Plymouth Ave SE.

As has been true in the past, parents who live within the two-mile radius may opt to transport their children to the nearest bus stop outside the radius. Please contact Joan or Tim to find out where the closest stop would be.

2 mile radius map

 

Grand Rapids Public Schools and Rockford Public Schools Transportation Update

You are likely aware that Grand Rapids Public and Rockford Public Schools each recently announced that they will begin the school year virtually and not reopen for in-person instruction as they originally planned.

We recently confirmed that GRPS will not be providing bus service for Grand Rapids Christian Schools students while their students are not on campus but will begin transportation to eligible GRCS students when they reopen their schools. If your child normally rides a GRPS bus, you will need to provide transportation to and from school until GRPS is back in session on campus.

Rockford Public Schools also recently made the decision to delay the start of on-campus instruction for at least three weeks and are planning to start face-to-face instruction on Monday, September 14. We are in communication with them and are waiting to hear if they will transport Rockford Christian students beginning August 19 or if they will wait to transport our students until RPS students are in school.  We will let you know as soon as they have given us their final decision.

We understand these changes may cause challenges for your family as you prepare to send your children back to school. We promise to work with GRPS and RPS to get our students back on their buses just as soon as possible.

Please feel free to contact Joan Quist or Tim Hoving with any transportation questions you may have. They can both be reached at transportation@grcs.org or 616.574.5710.

Sincerely,

Tom DeJonge

Tom DeJonge
Superintendent, Grand Rapids Christian Schools

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