Superintendent Search | Candidate Interviews Rd 1 | 5.24.21

This week, Superintendent Nick Cassidy announced the details of the new Teachers Live Here program that is aimed at retaining and attracting the very best teachers to Holland Public Schools. Here is a part of that announcement.

Teachers Live Here will provide $25,000 in down payment assistance to Holland Public Schools teachers. An anonymous donor in the City of Holland will help HPS retain and recruit the best educators to the district.

January 16, 2023, 6:00 pm, Board Training Room at the HPS Administration Building.

Public Comments can only be made in person.

Meet the newest Trustees on the Holland Public Schools Board of Education: Chris Arendshorst and Lois Mulder.

Congratulations and Welcome to Chris Arendshorst and Lois Mulder. They took the oath of office on Monday, January 9 before the Annual Organization Meeting for the Board.

TRAILS will help students to see someone else's perspective, to foster compromise, to treat others kindly, and to have empathy and understanding.

The students and staff of Holland Public Schools have THIS week off for the Holidays. LAST week, Gary Stevens talked with HPS Superintendent on WHTC’s Talk of the Town.  Here are some highlights from that conversation.

This week we talk with outgoing-trustee Phil Meyer about his time on the HPS Board of Education.

On the ballot in the City of Holland: 19.5-Mill Non-Homestead Millage Proposal

• Supports Daily Operating Budget
• Does Not Apply to Primary Residences

Associate Superintendent of School Improvement Laura McCloud presented the following report to members of the Board of Education on October 10, 2022

The League of Women Voters hosted a Candidate Forum on Thursday, October 6, 7-8:30pm at Holland Middle School. Voters had the opportunity to meet candidates running for School Board.  Candidates answered questions during the forum.  Watch the video.

Video from the Board of Education Meeting on 9/19/22.

Meet new administrators at Jefferson Elementary, Holland High, Holland Middle School, and District Administration offices.

This week we talk with HPS Superintendent Nick Cassidy about his plans for Summer "Break".

Due to the early announcement of term expiration, the Holland Public Schools Board of Education is seeking a candidate to fill the board seat of Mike McKay. The newly appointed Trustee will serve from the date of appointment, anticipated to be July 1, 2022, through the certification of the general election on November 8, 2022.

HPS works with public safety officials to provide all students and staff with powerful learning opportunities in safe, secure, and predictable environments.

This week we talk with Bob Wandel from the ODC Education Network and Superintendent Nick Cassidy about the future of nature-based learning at Holland Heights.

Helpful resources for helping students cope with unsettling current events.

HPS will work with Outdoor Discovery Center to develop Nature-based Learning at Holland Heights Elementary. MORE INFORMATION COMING SOON!

Holland Board of Education to enter contract negotiations with Interim Superintendent Nick Cassidy.

Member of the Holland Schools Board of Education are seeking your input following the Candidate Open House and Interview on March 16, 2022.

Wednesday, March 16

• Open House at 3:30pm | Meet Superintendent Candidate Nick Cassidy
• Interview at 5pm| Board members will interview Candidate Nick Cassidy

The interview will be conducted in-person. The meeting will be broadcast via Zoom at the link listed below.  Please attend in person to participate in the public comment portion of the meeting.

After a review of the stakeholder responses, followed by considerable discussion, trustees of the Board of Education have decided to move forward with an internal search for the next Superintendent of HPS. 

We'll see several Phase 1 projects begin soon. Meanwhile, planning and design is underway at Holland Middle School for projects that will begin in the Summer of 2023.

Interim Superintendent Nick Cassidy announces that Holland Public Schools will no longer require masks to be worn during the school day, effective Monday, February 21. 

WATCH ONLINE! Join Holland Public Schools and the City of Holland in a Community Celebration of the life and work of Rev. Dr Martin Luther King jr. on January 17 at 12noon.

HPS is committed to keeping our schools open, staff in classrooms, and students in seats.

On December 20, Trustees of the Holland School Board of Education elected new officers for 2022:

• Liz Colburn – President
• Diane Ybarra - Vice President
• Linda Falstad – Secretary
• Mark Woltman – Treasurer

Thank you Trustee Phil Meyer for your years of service as the President of the Board of Education.

December 20, 2021 | Regular Meeting at 7pm, Organizational Meeting to follow.

HYBRID MEETING: In-person at District Admin Building OR via ZOOM

Monday, December 13, 2021, 5:30 p.m.

 Wednesday, December 8 at 3pm (This is an in-person meeting.)

Thank you for completing the survey, attending the townhall meeting, and/or your input in helping to drive priorities for the students in Holland Public Schools.  District leaders, building principals and staff will continue to work on a plan to support student progress and growth.  Please contact Associate Superintendent Laura McCloud with additional input.

Monday, December 6, 2021, 5:30 pm | Hybrid Meeting: In person OR via Zoom

Board of Education announces separation with Shanie Keelean.
HMS Principal Nick Cassidy named Interim Superintendent.

Tuesday, November 30, 2021, 5:30 p.m. | HYBRID: In-person OR via Zoom.

Holland Public Schools is still hiring bus drivers. $19.67/hr to start, plus we'll pay for training. 

Monday, November 15, 2021, 7:00 p.m.

THIS MEETING HAS BEEN CANCELED

Monday, November 8, 2021, 5:30 p.m. 

Thursday, November 4, 2021, 4:00 p.m. | District Admin Building - Board Room

The meeting is being conducted in a hybrid format. You may join in-person or via Zoom. If you are attending in person you are encouraged to bring a wireless device and ear buds to connect via Zoom.  Public comments can be made in person or via Zoom. 

Wednesday, October 27, 2021, 5:30 p.m. in the Board Training Room | HPS Administration Building

The meeting is being conducted in a hybrid format. You may join in-person or via Zoom. If you are attending in person you are encouraged to bring a wireless device and ear buds to connect via Zoom. Public comments can be made in person or via Zoom.

This meeting is being conducted in a hybrid format. You may join in-person or via Zoom. If you are attending in person you are encouraged to bring a wireless device and ear buds to connect via Zoom.  Public comments can be made in person or via Zoom.  Board members may be contacted via the District website.

• Monday, October 11, 2021 | 5:30pm 

THIS MEETING HAS BEEN CANCELED. ITEMS ON THE AGENDA WILL BE ADDED TO THE BOARD STUDY SESSION ON OCTOBER 11, 2021

Portions of this meeting were not video-recorded dute to technical problems with Zoom.

A letter from Superintendent Shanie Keelean:

Thank you for participating in the recent survey of HPS Families about the start of the school year. More than 400 of you participated in this survey. The information you shared will not only help us improve next year’s kickoff of the school year, but will also help us reach our goals for supporting Every Student, Every Day.

In this ANONYMOUS SURVEY, members of the District Leadership Team and the Board of Education are looking for your feedback of the first week of the school year. 

Vaccines to be encouraged. Face coverings will be required.

I am so excited to be in Holland! As I settle in to my new office, I wanted to briefly introduce myself

On this week's HPS podcast we’ll get to know the NEW Superintendent of Holland Public Schools as she answers questions from students, parents and the community.

This meeting has been canceled all meeting agenda items will be moved to Board Study Session II on Monday, July 12, 2021, 5:30 pm.

Keelean will begin at Holland Public Schools on July 1, replacing retiring Superintendent Dr. Brian Davis.

2021 School Building and Site Bonds, Series 1 | $24,420,000

The HPS School Board will enter into contract negotiations with Mrs. Shanie Keelean; selected as our next Superintendent.  (See ful article for video of special board meeting.)

Click "Read Full Article" to watch the video from Tuesday's interviews and townhall meeting.

Members of the Holland School Board narrowed their search for the next Superintendent of Schools: 

• Shanie Keelean, Associate Superintendent of School Leadership and Development, Waukegan Community Unit School District #60, Illinois
• Michael Pascoe Ph.D., Assistant Superintendent of Instruction, Portage Public Schools, Michigan

These candidates will meet members of the community during a Town Hall Meeting on Tuesday, June 1, 6:30pm in the HPS Board Training Room.

A limited number of people can attend this meeting in-person; the board encourages you to attend via ZOOM.

Following Superintendent finalist interviews on Tuesday, June 1, your input will assist members of the Holland Public School Board in assessing candidates for Superintendent of Schools.

Following the Superintendent Search | Townhall Meeting on Tuesday, June  1, your input will assist members of the Holland Public School Board in assessing candidates for Superintendent of Schools.

Following interviews on Thursday, May 27, the following information will assist members of the Holland Public School Board in assessing candidates for Superintendent of Schools.

• 4:30 PM - 5:20 PM | Michael Pascoe Ph.D., Assistant Superintendent of Instruction, Portage Public Schools, Michigan
• 5:30 PM - 6:20 PM  | Shanie Keelean, Associate Superintendent of School Leadership and Development, Waukegan Community Unit School District #60, Illinois
• 7:00 PM - 7:50 PM  | Scott Smith Ed.S, Superintendent Cedar Springs Public Schools, Michigan

Following interviews on Monday, May 24, the following information will assist members of the Holland Public School Board in assessing candidates for Superintendent of Schools.

Interviews will be held in person on May 24 and 27 at the District Administration Office, 320 W. 24th Street.

HPS Board of Education votes to no longer require the quarantine of students considered "close-contacts"  of positive cases at school with some exceptions. Any student who is currently on quarantine, and who is not impacted by one of the three conditions noted below, may return to school and extra-curricular activities effective immediately.

On Tuesday May 4, voters in Holland approved the $74 million Build 2021 bond proposal from Holland Public Schools.  Today, we talk with Superintendent Dr. Brian Davis about what happens next.

Congratulations to these great student artists for earning District Art Awards:

• Tessa Nienhuis
• Maria Mead
• Ashlyn DePoy
• Tina Wu
• Neah Ayala
• Nayeli Trevino
• Nicole Souder
• Mickey Higgins
• Tyler Punch
• Claudia Kurniawan

If approved by voters on May 4, BUILD 2021 would generate $74,650,000 for improvements across the District - including $9.4m for renovations at Holland High School.

Upcoming opportunities for input on important issues facing the district.

• Parents & Community Meeting | April 15, 4pm & 7pm
• Spanish-Speaking Parents &  Community Meeting | April 14, 7pm

• Students in grades 9-12 will be remote for two weeks through April 22.
• Students in grades PreK-8 will return to school for in-person learning on Monday, April 12.

The Holland Public Schools Board of Education is seeking input on the hiring of a new superintendent. The survey below is being administered by the MASB Executive Search team and takes about ten minutes to complete.  

If approved by voters on May 4, BUILD 2021 would generate $74,650,000 for improvements across the District - including brand new classrooms for students at West Elementary.

Members of the HPS Board of Education and Advisors from the Michigan Association of School Boards discuss the process for searching for a new Superintendent for Holland Public Schools.

The Board Executive Committee will meet Friday, November 20, 2020, 2:00 p.m.

The next meeting of the Board of Education will be a Regular Meeting and is scheduled for Monday, October 19, 2020 at 7:00 pm. In accordance with Senate Bill 1108 this meeting will be a virtual meeting using Zoom. If you would like to make a public comment you may do so via Zoom.

Members of the Board & the Superintendent will meet in person on Monday, October 12.  Anyone else interested in participating in the meeting can join via Zoom.

 Register in advance for this meeting:

  https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJEtc-6hpz0vGtO7d6DEMKisdunJYLxfh8_X

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Members of the Holland Public Schools Board of Education will meet for their regular study session on Monday, September 14 at 5:30pm.  Members will meet in person; this meeting will be streamed live via Zoom.

Members of the HPS Board of Education Executive Committee will meet September 14, 4:30pm via Zoom.

CHANGE OF DATE.  Due to the Labor Day holiday falling on the day  the board regularly holds board study sessions, this meeting has been moved and will be held Tuesday, September 8.

Members of the Executive Committee will meet August 31, 8am via Zoom.

Click here to join the Zoom Meeting

Superintendent Brian Davis will host office hours (online and in-person) to answer your questions about the August 4 Millage Request from Holland Public Schools.

Holland Public Schools is "committed to being part of the solution - to listening, learning, and doing better."