Holland Public Schools Unveils Proposal to Consolidate Elementary Programs and Add Early Childhood Center by 2027

HOLLAND, Mich. — Holland Public Schools has unveiled an ambitious plan to consolidate its elementary programs into three buildings and introduce an early childhood learning center by 2027. The proposal, announced by Superintendent Nick Cassidy earlier this week, aims to optimize the district’s resources while accommodating recent enrollment growth.

In a statement, Cassidy explained that the district has experienced growth in student enrollment over the past few years, and with the stabilization of those numbers, the time is right to make changes that will better serve the community’s educational needs.

“We have actually grown in enrollment the last couple of years,” Cassidy said. “We have stabilized and feel like this is the time to make this move.”

Currently, Holland Public Schools operates four elementary buildings: Holland Heights, the Holland Language Academy (HLA), Jefferson, and West. The proposed plan would see HLA relocated to the Jefferson building, providing the program with more space. Meanwhile, the existing HLA building would be converted into an early childhood learning center, catering to the district’s youngest learners.

Elementary students not enrolled in HLA would be redistributed between a newly constructed Holland Heights school and West Elementary. The new Holland Heights facility is currently under construction, while West Elementary is slated for major upgrades this summer. These upgrades are part of the ongoing “Build 2021” bonding plan, which is progressing as scheduled and funded.

School Board President Liz Colburn expressed optimism about the district’s future and the potential benefits of these changes. “We’re in a pretty positive place at this point,” Colburn said. “We were projected to lose students, and we are actually gaining students over the last couple of years. These moves will enable us to keep class sizes smaller, which I think is extremely important for our teachers and our students.”

The proposed changes have sparked discussions within the community, and the district is encouraging public input through a series of open-house meetings. There will be six opportunities for community members to provide feedback on the plan:

• Thursday, Feb. 20 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the District Administration Building
• Thursday, Feb. 27 from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. at West Elementary
• Tuesday, March 4 from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Jefferson Elementary
• Thursday, March 20 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at HLA
• Wednesday, March 26 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the District Administration Building

These meetings are part of the district’s effort to ensure transparency and gather valuable community input before finalizing any decisions regarding the changes.

With the ongoing construction and future renovations, Holland Public Schools is hopeful that the proposed restructuring will not only improve the quality of education but also enhance the overall experience for students, teachers, and the community at large.