Black River Public School is a

public In public relations and communication science, publics are groups of individual people, and the public (a.k.a. the general public) is the totality of such groupings. This is a different concept to the sociological concept of the ''Öffentlichkei ...

college preparatory A college-preparatory school (usually shortened to preparatory school or prep school) is a type of secondary school. The term refers to public, private independent or parochial schools primarily designed to prepare students for higher education ...

charter school A charter school is a school that receives government funding but operates independently of the established state school system in which it is located. It is independent in the sense that it operates according to the basic principle of auto ...

located in

Holland, Michigan Holland is a city in the western region of the Lower Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated near the eastern shore of Lake Michigan on Lake Macatawa, which is fed by the Macatawa River (formerly known locally as the Black River). ...

History

One of Michigan's earliest charter schools, Black River Public School was founded in July 1996 after receiving a charter from

Grand Valley State University Grand Valley State University (GVSU, GV, or Grand Valley) is a public university in Allendale, Michigan. It was established in 1960 as Grand Valley State College. Its main campus is situated on approximately west of Grand Rapids. The universit ...

. Its operations initially took place in the Federal School building on 8th Street and during its four years there, 14 portables were added due to growth. Due to the overcrowding, BASF Corporation donated a building, originally occupied by the Holland Furnace Company, to the school in 1998. In 2001, Black River added a

Montessori The Montessori method of education involves children's natural interests and activities rather than formal teaching methods. A Montessori classroom places an emphasis on hands-on learning and developing real-world skills. It emphasizes indepen ...

elementary program. In May 2003, Black River was accredited by the

American Academy for Liberal Education The American Academy for Liberal Education (AALE) is a United States-based educational accreditation organization with a focus on fostering liberal arts education, both in higher education and in earlier schooling. AALE does not currently have U.S ...

(AALE) and in 2004 by the

North Central Association Commission of Accreditation and School Improvement The North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA), also known as the North Central Association, was a membership organization, consisting of colleges, universities, and schools in 19 U.S. states engaged in educational accreditation. It ...

. In the summer of 2003, Black River added two new 8 and 6 room modular buildings to accommodate more elementary students. In the spring of 2007, Black River expanded their campus with the completion of the a 20,000-square-foot structure referred to as the ‘Lyceum’. The building facilitates a gymnasium, cafeteria, and music facilities. Previously existing facilities were remodeled to provide additional classroom space. In the fall of 2011 remodeling was completed on a former storage/loading dock facility to house the kindergarten program following its transition to an all-day schedule. As a surprise donation, the school acquired a 3.5 acres of property in March 2013. While he or she requested anonymity; Black River’s Head of School, Shannon Brunink, acknowledged that it was a former board member who donated the parcel. City records state that $50,000 was the last selling price for the land prior to its redistribution to the school. This addition to the school’s campus is only a street away from the campus’s soccer field at 525 Lincoln Ave. The property had remained vacant since 2010, when the occupant, South Side Swim Club, had to foreclose due to lack of memberships. As of July 2022, it is unknown if Black River has made any formal use of the property yet. In 2014 the school undertook a $4.87 million capital campaign to raise funds for a four part capital project benefiting the entire student body. Improvements included a new 27,000 sf elementary facility (built during the summer of 2015), a building renovation for a new chemistry lab, supplemental gym/cafeteria space, and significant technology upgrades throughout campus. The project was completed successfully with the new buildings opening in the fall of 2015, growing enrollment to nearly 1,000 students in grades K-12.

References

External links

Official site
{{authority control Public high schools in Michigan Buildings and structures in Holland, Michigan Educational institutions established in 1996 Charter schools in Michigan Schools in Ottawa County, Michigan Public middle schools in Michigan Public elementary schools in Michigan 1996 establishments in Michigan

History

See also

References

External links