LAS superintendent likely to be chosen by Zeeland schools

Ludington Area Schools Superintendent Cal DeKuiper is the sole candidate for the Zeeland Schools superintendent position.

Mlive.com reports that DeKuiper was selected Monday night after the Zeeland Schools board of education went into closed session. The board chose DeKuiper exclusively from the nine applicants who applied for the position.

The public interview process of DeKuiper will begin Wednesday with his introduction at 7 p.m. at Zeeland West High School and a public question and answer period.

“DeKuiper’s skill set and style are indicative of what ZPS needs,” board president Tom DenHerder said, according to Mlive.com.

“We have experienced tremendous change in one year and we need an experienced leader who can embrace our community and invest in the future of our students. I believe Cal DeKuiper has the talent to achieve this.”

DeKuiper began as an assistant principal at LAS in 1993 and became superintendent since 2005. He was a finalist for the Zeeland schools job in 2011. At that time Zeeland Schools hired Dave Barry, who since has resigned in a negotiated separation agreement with the district after his admission of plagiarism involving district written material, Mlive reports.

DeKuiper’s hiring comes months after he led LAS in passing a $10 million technology and school improvement bond issue.

“DeKuiper’s experiences in curriculum, special education, technology and in gifted and talented programming make him an exceptional candidate,” said Interim Zeeland Superintendent Gary Feenstra.

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