GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Grand Rapids Public Schools Educators and teachers union members took to the monthly Board of Education meeting to express anger over the district's contract proposal made public Monday.

Grand Rapids Education Association Vice-President Jayne Niemann said that although the district says average teacher wages will go up 4.5%, it’s not an across-the-board increase.

She said that the proposal still doesn't move GRPS from among the lowest in the county for teacher pay.

“We want a salary schedule that gives yearly raises," Niemann said. "They did counterpropose one. However, it's not enough to get us out of the bottom of the county average.”

On the other hand, GRPS Communications Director Luke Stier said that the district's proposal would be a historic investment in t

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