Grand Rapids’ Stocking Elementary Closing 100 Years Later – What Should It Be Now?

100 years of history! The end of an era!

Current and former students of this Grand Rapids school have been taking a trip down memory lane before it is closed for good.

Have you heard about what is happening with Stocking Elementary?

Stocking Elementary Closure

After 100 years, Stocking Elementary School is closing down.

Farewell celebrations have been happening all week long, including on Tuesday when community members gathered to share 100 years of memories.

Why is the school closing?

When Stocking Elementary principal, Michael Thomasma, spoke with WZZM, he shared that,

"There's a many of reasons why we're closing, there are schools around us that can absorb our students and really give them the opportunity that they need for the best education that they can get. We are a smaller school, we don't have air conditioning, we'd get some building needs that we can just better be served by Sibley and Harrison to really taking our kids in and embracing them and being part of their community and moving to those communities."

If you remember, this is not the first time that Stocking Elementary has closed. It closed previously back in 2010 but re-opened a few years later.

What Should Stocking Elementary Become Now?

The sad news of the closure comes a bright, new future for the former Stocking Elementary.

Grand Rapids Public Schools has released a survey to see what the community would like to see done with the century-old building.

While I will say there should have been more options to choose from, there are some rather good options.

The Stocking Elementary building could become either a place for:

• Affordable Family Housing
• GRPS Staff Housing
• Park Land/ Greenspace, or
• Community Center

Thankfully, there is also a fill-in option so you can suggest what can be done with the building.

If you want to get your voice heard, you should fill out the survey ASAP.