Holland Reporter

Incumbent Randy Schipper and not-quite-newcomer Marc Eickholt were elected to six-year seats on the Ottawa Area Intermediate School District (OAISD) board on June 5.  Eickholt replaces board Vice President John Siemion, who didn't run for reelection.

“I could go on, but in short, the OAISD provides learners in all corners and nearly all ages of its borders with invaluable services and I am looking forward to (once again) being part of their mission,” said Eickholt in a Facebook post. He is new to a board seat, but he has worked for the district in other capacities for several years. 

These elections are held every other year. Candidates are not voted on by residents in the ISD but by representatives from school districts within the ISD. Their terms will begin on July 1 and will run until June 30, 2029.

The OAISD thanked Siemion for his decades spent in service of public schools in the area saying, “The leadership, commitment and vision shown by John has created a legacy of educational opportunities for all Ottawa Area students.”

Three other candidates ran for the two seats: Vanessa Wilhelm, Grand Haven; Roger Williams, Grand Haven and Eric Miller, Zeeland.  

No more than two candidates from a school district can serve on the board at the same time. The 11 school districts in the ISD, Allendale, Coopersville, Grand Haven, Hamilton, Holland, Hudsonville, Jenison, Saugatuck, Spring Lake, West Ottawa and Zeeland, sent delegates to vote at the election. Nine of the 11 schools chose Schipper and Eickholt, while the Allendale Board of Education voted for Wilhelm and Williams, and the Hamilton Board of Education voted for Schipper and Williams.

"One of the most visible programs is, of course, the Careerline Tech Center and work-based learning, but the OAISD provides so much more,” Eickholt said, mentioning the Ottawa Area Center, Young Adult Services, Early Childhood programs and the Technology Services group.