Grand Haven, MI (WGHN) – The Grand Haven Area Public Schools Board of Education met Monday evening at Robinson Elementary School. During the meeting, the Board recognized a community partner, heard updates from Robinson Elementary and student representatives, and took action on items related to the district’s Strategic Plan, operations, and board policy.
Consent Agenda
The Board approved the consent agenda, which included the minutes from the February 9, 2026 Board of Education meeting, approval of the February payment of bills, and routine district support organization items.
Grand Partner of the Month: Velo Kids
The Board recognized Velo Kids as the March GHAPS Grand Partner of the Month.
Velo Kids is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping children develop healthy, active lifestyles through cycling. Since its founding in 2017, the organization has grown from a small group of riders into a community program serving thousands of children through bike clubs, camps, and school partnerships.
Velo Kids Executive Director Jenny White explained how programs such as Bike School, Bike Clubs, and Learn-to-Bike initiatives, Velo Kids helps children build confidence, learn bike safety skills, and enjoy the outdoors. The organization has served more than 4,000 children through its programs and continues expanding opportunities for students across West Michigan. Thanked Scott Przystas, a GHAPS physical education teacher, for his dedication to helping children in our schools stay active, get outside, and get on bikes as a Velo Kids coach.
Celebration of Learning: Robinson Elementary
Staff from Robinson Elementary provided the Board with an update highlighting the school’s work to strengthen instruction, collaboration, and connections within the school community.
The Robinson team shared how their improvement efforts are organized around four pillars:
-
Instruction, focused on strengthening intervention systems and supporting student learning through essential standards and data-driven decision making
-
Collaboration, which includes shared assessment systems and improved staff access to instructional resources
-
Building Climate, centered on creating positive relationships across grade levels and fostering a welcoming school environment
-
Connections, which emphasizes parent engagement and opportunities for families to participate in student learning
The update also highlighted initiatives such as building-wide activities that promote relationships among students and staff, as well as family engagement opportunities. This year’s Celebration of Learning events, for example, have offered the opportunity for Robinson families to come into the school and visit students’ classrooms to experience first-hand what they have been learning about while building relationships with the staff and strengthening school-hone connections.
Student Representatives Update
Student representatives McKenna Twa and Matthew Keskine shared updates with the Board regarding the growing list of student opportunities at Lakeshore Middle School, from arts and athletics to leadership growth and student-led groups such as the recently started chess club.
Teaching & Learning: Strategic Plan Vision of Learning – Student Traits
The Board approved a key component of the GHAPS Strategic Plan by adopting a Vision of Learning framework focused on student traits.
The framework identifies six traits the district aims to intentionally develop in all students:
-
Collaboration
-
Critical Thinking
-
Communication
-
Curiosity
-
Resilience
-
Empathy
District leaders explained that these traits were developed through extensive engagement with staff, students, families, and community partners. The traits are intended to complement academic learning and help prepare students to succeed in school, careers, and their communities.
These learning traits will be embedded into instructional practices and curriculum planning across grade levels to support rigorous, relevant, and engaging learning experiences for all students.
Finance & Operations: Walden Green Meal Service Agreement
The Board approved an agreement for Grand Haven Area Public Schools to provide daily breakfast and lunch meals for students attending Walden Green Montessori in Ferrysburg.
Under the agreement, meals will be prepared at Grand Haven High School and delivered daily to Walden Green. The district will claim the associated meal reimbursements.
Labor & Policy
New Hire
The Board approved the hiring of an Industrial Technology teacher at Grand Haven High School beginning in the 2026–27 school year.
Behavioral Threat Assessment & Management Update
GHAPS Director of Safety and Security Trent Carithera provided the Board with an update on Michigan’s Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management (BTAM) law, which requires public schools to implement structured threat assessment procedures by October 1, 2026.
The district has used a threat assessment process for many years and will align its existing practices with the updated statewide framework. The approach emphasizes early identification of concerning behaviors and coordinated intervention through multidisciplinary teams that may include administrators, counselors, social workers, school resource officers, and safety staff.
Superintendent Report: Policy Updates
The Board approved the second reading of a revised policy on field trips and voted to send a new facility naming policy back to the board’s policy committee for further consideration and edits:
-
Policy 5506 – Field Trips (revised), which outlines expectations for planning, supervision, student conduct, and parent permissions for school-sponsored trips.
09b – 5506 Field Trips -
Policy 3310.02 – Naming of Facilities (new), which establishes guidelines for naming district facilities and the use of dedicatory plaques in new buildings.
09c – 3310.02 Naming of Facility. -
Board President Report
Board President Nichol Stack shared updates on ongoing Board work, engagement, professional learning, and upcoming events. The board discussed potentially moving its April workshop meeting from April 17 to April 24 due to board member schedule conflicts. The final date will be finalized and updated on the GHAPS website by the end of the week.
During last week’s Ottawa Area School Board Association meeting several members of the GHAPS School Board were recognized for recent certificates and awards earned through continuing education, including the following:
-
Seth Holt: Advocacy Skills Specialty; Level 5 – Master Diamond Award
-
Marc Eickholt: Community Relations Specialty; Finance Certification Specialty
-
Nichol Stack: Finance Certification Specialty; Level 5 – Master Diamond Award
-
Cyndi D. Casemiere: Level 1 – Certified Board Member Award; Level 2 – Award of Merit
-
Kristal Boyd: Level 3 – Award of Distinction
GHAPS Superintendent Kristin Perkowski expressed her thanks for the board’s continued learning and growth, sharing, “the continuing education sessions our board members regularly participate in help ensure they are not only growing as trustees but also gaining deeper insight into how our schools operate. We are fortunate to have board members who choose to serve as lead learners for our district.”
Closed Session
At the conclusion of the meeting, the Board voted to move into closed session to discuss district security planning in accordance with Section 8(1)(k) of the Michigan Open Meetings Act.
Board meeting agendas, minutes, and additional information about the work of the Board of Education can be found on the district website at www.ghaps.org under the Board of Education section.
Comments