HOLLAND, MI (WHTC-AM/FM) – For the fourth time in the past 15 years, the structure of Holland Public Schools will be reorganized.
On a 6-1 vote last night, the Board of Education approved the return to a “traditional” school structure of four kindergarden-to-fifth-grade schools – Holland Heights, Holland Language Academy, Jefferson and West – with East becoming a middle school for grades six through eight, and Holland High holding classes for grades nine through 12. Other programs will also be affected.
The moves, which take effect this coming fall, is aimed at dealing with annual budget deficits of around 1.2 million dollars, mostly due to declining enrollment that has cut per-pupil funding from Lansing. There will also be staff reductions, although an exact number wasn’t immediately disclosed by district officials.
The vote comes after a series of public open houses to discuss the pros and cons of the restructuring. Similar realignment of Holland schools came in 2003, 2006 and 2009.
