ZEELAND, MI (WHTC-AM/FM) – Gary Feenstra served as Zeeland’s school superintendent for 18 years. His successor lasted half of that span in that post.
During Monday night’s Zeeland Board of Education meeting, Cal DeKuiper announced his retirement, effective on June 30, 2021. The move comes nine years after he succeeded Feenstra as the district’s operational leader.
“They say you’ll kinda know when (to retire), and as this has happened, it really tugs at your heartstrings to stop doing what you love to do,” DeKuiper said during a Tuesday appearance on “WHTC Morning News.” “It is hard to retire; I had no idea how difficult this was going to be, but at the same time, I can sense that I’m ready.”
DeKuiper is the fourth area school chief to retire or announce retirement plans this school year, following in the footsteps of Tom Martin of West Ottawa, Brian Davis of Holland and Tom Tenbrink of Jenison.
The board will retain the Michigan Association of School Boards to help in the search for a new superintendent.
Comments