Ottawa Area Intermediate School District selects finalist for superintendent

The Ottawa Area Intermediate School District’s Board of Education has chosen a finalist in itssearch for its next superintendent.

Out of an initial pool of four candidates, Greenville Superintendent Pete Haines rose to the top, officials said.

The board conducted a final round of interviews with Haines and its other semifinalist Monday night, said OAISD Assistant Superintendent for Instructional Services Kyle Mayer.

The board plans to visit Greenville Public Schools before making a formal contract offer to Haines. Previously, the ISD has said it would like to have its new hire in place by July 1.

“Pete Haines embodies the same core values that are reflected in our organizational culture,” Interim Superintendent Julie Gillespie said in a news release. “If selected by the board, he will be a great fit.”

The OAISD signed a $7,500 contract with the Michigan Association of School Boards to recruit and screen candidates.

Although Holland Public Schools Superintendent Brian Davis and Hamilton Community Schools Superintendent Dave Tebo were among the initial pool of candidates for the job, they were cut after the initial round of interviews by the board.

Former OAISD Superintendent Karen McPhee resigned in March — departing a three-year contract early — to serve as Gov. Rick Snyder’s education policy adviser.

An intermediate school district is a governmental agency that operates on a county scale to assist local school districts in providing programs and services. It also collects data for the state’s department of education.

The OAISD includes the public school districts of Allendale, Coopersville, Grand Haven, Hamilton, Holland, Hudsonville, Jenison, Saugatuck, Spring Lake, West Ottawa and Zeeland.

[“source-hollandsentinel.com”]