Ludington native may serve as interim superintendent

LUDINGTON – Ludington Area Schools board of education will interview a candidate for interim superintendent next Tuesday. The candidate, David Killips, is a Ludington native and has served most recently as the superintendent of Chelsea Public Schools from 2002 and retirement in 2012.

Three Ludington Area Schools administrators have also applied for the interim superintendent position with the goal to become hired permanently, Superintendent Cal DeKuiper told MCP. DeKuiper has accepted a position as superintendent of Zeeland Public Schools and will be leaving Ludington later this winter.

The three local candidates include Foster Elementary Principal Michael Ritter, Franklin Elementary Principal Andrea Large and Ludington High School Assistant Principal Dan Mesyar.

“The board is interested in those three candidates but it would like some more time to search other candidates as well,” DeKuiper said. “It is more comfortable having an outside interim superintendent. Mr. Killips was recommended by the consultant hired by the board.”

The board of education is scheduled to interview Killips Tuesday, Jan. 8 at 4 p.m.

In addition to Chelsea, Killips served as superintendent of Reed City Area Schools from 1997 to 2002, principal of Shelby High School from 1988 to 1997, principal at Decatur High School from 1987 to 198, Assistant Principal/Athletic Director at Decatur Junior High School from 1986 to 1987 and a teacher at Battle Creek Public Schools from 1978 to 1986.

He currently resides in Chelsea.