The Grand Haven Area Public School (GHAPS) board of education (BOE) will be conducting second interviews on April 23, 2024 for three of the six superintendent candidates whom they interviewed the prior week.
On April 16, the BOE interviewed Jennifer Herbstreit, Raphael Rittenhouse, and John Denney. On April 17, they interviewed Scott Smith, Jason Reinecke, and Kristin Perkowski. All three candidates interviewed on the second evening were invited back for second interviews. At the conclusion of each evening’s set of interviews, the BOE discussed the candidates.
Candidates 1-3
Raphael Rittenhouse
After Tuesday’s interviews, although they did not rank the candidates, the BOE appeared to favor candidate Raphael Rittenhouse.
Board Treasurer Seth Holt stated, “He talked like a superintendent. He acted like a superintendent. He talked about specifics.”
Board Secretary Nichol Stack stated, “He took the time to do his homework, and he was in tune with our desires of belonging. [] He was sighting treaties that actually effect our indigenous populations here in Michigan. It’s really great knowledge that he has.”
Board member Christine Baker stated, “I was struck by what I felt that he had a real heart for education, and a real heart for diversity. [] He would address staff in a respectful way and his bond experience seemed relevant.”
Board member Carl Treutler stated, “I thought he was well prepared, and I think he responded in the way I would expect a superintendent to because he is experienced being a decision maker.”
John Denney
The BOE appeared to have more concerns about candidate John Denney. Several board members mentioned that they were concerned about his ability to run a district the size of Grand Haven, but they also had some positive things to say.
Board President Chris Streng stated, “John is very comfortable in his skin.”
Board Secretary Nichol Stack stated, “He came across as a passive leader. [] I’m curious if he has had any DEI training at all.”
Board Treasurer Seth Holt stated, “He walked and talked like a superintendent.” He then added that he shared Nichol’s concerns.
Jennifer Herbstreit
The board did not appear to have a strong opinion on Jennifer Herbstreit. They shared a mix of positive comments and concerns.
Board member Carl Treutler stated, “I did think she was a little lengthy in some of her responses, and kind of missed the topic a little bit, but overall I thought her appearance was good.”
Christine Baker, “I thought she was pretty specific about some of the questions we had. [] I wonder about the experience she had with diversity.”
Candidates 4-6
The board did not appear to have a clear favorite from the second night’s group of interviewees.
Scott Smith
Most board members appeared to have a favorable impression of Scott Smith and several liked his experience handling bond proposals, but there were a few concerns.
Board member Kristal Boyd stated, “I had some questions about his answers to diversity. I didn’t feel like he necessarily hit what I was hoping to hear as an answer.”
Board Vice President Marc Eickholt stated, “He seems like a leader with vision. [] He sighted a fair amount of specific examples.”
Board member Christine Baker stated, “He seemed very confident, very smart, very funny. [] I could see him being a very good fit for this district.”
Board member Carl Treutler stated, “I think he’s very comfortable in his own skin. [] He has a good personality.”
Board Treasurer Seth Holt, “He was my favorite coming into this. I think he would be a good fit. [] Unfortunately, during this process, he didn’t remain my favorite.”
Jason Reinecke
The BOE had primarily good things to say about Jason Reinecke. Perhaps the biggest concerns about Reinecke come from the community. Reinecke is the current Human Resources director for GHAPS, and many people in the community feel Grand Haven would be best served with an external candidate. Two failed bond proposals indicate that the community feels there is a lack of trust and transparency with the current GHAPS leadership.
Board member Nichol Stack thought, “He was the right mix of enthusiasm and directness,” but the community’s resistance for an internal candidate seemed to trigger board member Carl Treutler. Treutler, who appears to place passing a bond as a top priority, took several minutes to share his opinion in a way I felt was disrespectful to the community and the other superintendent candidates.
Treutler stated, “Some of the comments from the public say we need an outsider, but we have a person who is a visionary. [] He wants to try to maintain the level of excellence in the district. That’s a great thing to try to do. It’s something that’s true. It’s hard for this board to have to completely explain that to the public all the time. We’re better than most of them.”
You can see Treutler’s comments by clicking on this link.
Board member Kristal Boyd stated the obvious conflict regarding an internal candidate. “It is incredibly difficult to separate Jason the candidate from Jason the guy whom I’ve been working with, that I like a lot.”
Board member Christine Baker stated, “He is internal. I don’t know why there’s this tendency to not want someone familiar, but for me that’s a plus.”
Kristen Perkowski
Kristen Perkowski was the final candidate to be interviewed. With a strong military background, she was well received by several board members, but one board member made what I felt was an inappropriate comment wondering if she had been given a golden parachute.
Board Treasurer Seth Holt stated, “I found her to be structured. I found her to be prepared.”
Board member Carl Treutler stated, “I thought she was very well prepared. Obviously, it showed, of her military experience as a major; 22 years. She’s been in command for quite some time. Her moving around to five or six different districts. That bothers me. [] You wonder whether she was looking to improve herself or her position, or whether she was being asked to take a golden parachute.”
Board member Kristal Boyd stated, “I felt like she is a natural born leader. [] I have to admit, I’m also fond of the fact that it’s a female, and I would like to consider the value that that perspective could bring in a leadership role.”
Board Vice President Marc Eickholt stated, “She was one of the few, if not the only candidate to mention empathy and connecting with students. Building that connection that way then builds academic performance; understanding grant funding and how they may be temporary and sustainable funding as well. [] She gave a lot of specific examples. [] I believe she is the only candidate who can speak a foreign language; Spanish. Which in our community can make a difference. [] She just spoke at a Women in Leadership conference this month.”
Discussion on Inviting Candidates for Final Interviews
Once the board’s discussion of the candidates from the second evening concluded, they decided which candidates to invite for final interviews. As a member of the public, I found the decision-making process quite abrupt as the entire discussion lasted approximately two minutes. The most surprising part was that they did not even mention the names of the candidates from the first night of interviews.
You can view the discussion here.
The final round of interviews will begin (Tuesday, April 23) at 5:30 pm at Grand Haven High School. Prior to the interviews, there will be an open house at 4:00 where community members can meet the candidates.