Letter read at March 14 Board of Education meeting

My name is Sarah (Welch) Holtrop and I am writing this letter out of concern for the students, staff, administration, and school board. I have lived in Cedar Springs my entire life. My parents were both teachers at Cedar Springs. They devoted their lives to their students. After graduating from college, I also began my career as a teacher in the Cedar Springs district. My husband and I raised three children in Cedar Springs and they attended Cedar Springs from preschool through the 12^th grade. I have been teaching in Cedar Springs for the past 32 years. In those 32 years, I have had the opportunity to work for 5 different superintendents, and 9 different principals. I have shown respect for them all and that is the way it should be. Over the years I have attended many board meetings and for the last two years I have attended almost all of them. In that time the board hired a new superintendent…Dr. Laura VanDuyn. The vote was 5-2 in favor of Dr. VanDuyn. I continue to attend board meetings in order to be certain I am informed. I am breaking my silence because I do not feel it is fair for individuals to stand up and verbally blame Dr. VanDuyn for being the cause of the resignation of four administrators. This accusation is unfair, as all of these individuals have resigned. All of them could have accepted Dr. VanDuyn as their new superintendent, and worked alongside her to serve the students of Cedar Springs. However, instead of doing so, for one reason or another, they have chosen to resign. I have heard many ask the board why the administrators have resigned. Instead of asking the board over and over again why, ask these individuals exactly why they resigned.

In our careers we are continually faced with change, and like it or not, we have to accept it. An administrative change is not a reason to end a long-term career. Personally, I have found Dr. VanDuyn to be compassionate, caring, and concerned (for the well being of both students and staff.) She is working tirelessly for the Cedar Springs School district. She offers opportunities for all staff members to meet with her. She actually listens to concerns. She values the employees of the district. In her short time serving the district, she has a growing list of accomplishments. Restoring the counseling to Cedar Trails and Beach, and lowering class sizes are a couple of recent examples. In conclusion, I think it is time to accept the fact that our administration has changed. It is certainly not the first time and we need to move forward with our new leaders. They deserve our kindness, support, and respect.

Sarah (Welch) Holtrop, 1^st Grade Teacher, Cedar Trails