Transforming Grand Haven Area Public Schools (GHAPS) from an institution whose primary focus was education, to an institution that has allowed illogical social justice movements to be held in high regard, was a long, slow process.
Going back decades, there was foreshadowing of things to come. In the mid 1980’s, all middle school students were called to a building assembly where most kids received awards for meeting basic expectations such as showing up to class. In a one-hour session, natural intrinsic motivation of a class of students was undermined.
In 1999, GHAPS’s first Diversity Day took place. The guest speaker was named Sean Kosovsky and represented the Triangle Foundation. In a statement of dubious appropriateness for his audience, he suggested to a room full of teenagers that they should experiment sexually with members of both sexes to see which one they liked best. Keith Konarska, was the GHAPS Assistant Superintendent at the time (1999-2005) and later became Superintendent 2005-June 2015. He was followed by Andy Ingall, 2015-December 31, 2021, and then Scott Grimes, January 1, 2022-present.
Although it is difficult to find information on what exactly took place during the early years of the transformation, it is known that Konarska was a proponent of diversity and inclusion initiatives. In August 2013, he hosted a podcast called Issues and Answers. The guests included Gail Harrison the Executive Director of the Lakeshore Ethnic Diversity Alliance, Nelson Jacobson, president and CEO of JSJ Corporation, and Shaily Menon, a professor from Grand Valley State University. The three discussed the Diversity Initiative of Northwest Ottawa County (DINOC), an initiative to foster diversity and inclusion. During the podcast Konarska stated, “From my perspective in a K-12 school district, I don’t think there is anything we can do that is more important than preparing our kids to live in a more diversified world.”
On March 27, 2015, the Lakeshore Ethnic Diversity Alliance (LEDA) hosted the Diversity Alliance Summit on Race and Inclusion at Grand Haven High School. In March 2018 the Grand Haven Community Foundation granted GHAPS $15,000 for a Mindfulness Project. In November 2019 Opportunity Thrive received $12,000 to provide GHAPS with Social Emotional Learning.
Today the supposedly student-led club Calling All Colors, a group that works to dismantle institutional racism and promote diversity, is active at GHAPS, but this group has existed at GHAPS since at least 2013, as mentioned by Gail Harrison in the Issues and Answers podcast. According to Gloria Lara, the current Executive Director for LEDA
“What I'm really proud of is, we are one of the very few programs that actually has programs specifically for children. Our Calling All Colors program is where we get students from different high schools, and different middle schools together for an all-day summit at the beginning of the school year. Then they go off and they focus on doing a project. They come back at the end of the school year and present to all the other attendees. The other thing that they do is, there's a lesson plan. So, they work on different projects during the school year. One thing about Calling All Colors is, it's a long-term type of program.”
In more recent years, beginning around 2017, the hidden agenda and indoctrination lessons have become more obvious to parents and community members. Here is a list of lessons, events, and initiatives involving GHAPS that have taken place in recent years.
Elementary Schools
2019-present – Kids have access to sexually explicit books on Chromebooks
2021 – January – Martin Luther King day celebration with Anti-Racist Books
2021 – March – Call Me Max – transgender themed book read to elementary students
2021- April – Anti-Racist Books at Ferry School
2021 – July – Board Adopts Global Twig Science Curriculum for K-5
2021 – 4th Grade Griffin Teacher Molly McGinnis signs pledge to teach students CRT
2022-23 – iReady Begins measuring student growth – not proficiency
Middle School
2018-19 – Parent finds Sexually Explicit book in library and brings concerns to board – One Man Guy
2020-February – Parent raises concerns over “The Detour” sexually explicit library book
2020-21 – Should Black People be Considered Founders of America Lesson
2020-21 – 7th Grade Choir goes Gender Neutral
2021 – February – Systemic Racism Explained
2021-22 - Learning for Justice and Confronting Racism curriculum incorporated
High School
2013 – Calling All Colors has been at GHAPS since at least 2013
2017-2018 and 2019-2020 - Chalkboard Project encourages kids to be victims
2017-2018 Critical Race Theory in AP Language and Composition
2018 – Calvin Terrell assembly about anti-bullying more on Calvin Terrell
2019-20 – CRT Lessons and This Book is Anti Racist given to students during Academy Class
2020 – August – Pledge for Racial Equity signed by board
2020-21 – Parent discusses concerns over sexually explicit library books with curriculum director (video)
2021 – 10th Grade Students given White Privilege, White Savior, To Kill a Mockingbird Lesson
2021-22 – 9th Grade Book Banning Assignment, Teacher Response
2021-22 – Health Class and Gun Control
2021-22 – Political Propaganda on the Walls
2022 – June – Pride Day
2022-23 – Critical Theories Invade Music Programs
Board and Administration
2020-21 – Michigan Department of Education produces videos on hiding LGBTQ transitions from parents
2020-21 – Curriculum Director Provides Anti-Racism Talking Points to use with Questioning Parents
2020-21 – List of DEI Initiatives at GHAPS
2020-21 – GHAPS Provides Resources About Gender
2021-22 – DEIB Committee (video)
2021-22 – Teacher explains she teaches CRT
2021-22 – MICIP System Collects Data on Students
2021 – Curriculum Director Mary Jane Evink shares her approach to CRT (video)
2021 – September – Board President John Siemion Plagiarizes Resignation Letter
2021 – November – Choir Teacher Benjamin Rogers Resigns because GHAPS is teaching CRT
2022 – September – GHAPS Administrators Advocate ARPA Money go to Momentum Center
2022 – October – GHAPS Board President Christine Baker Marginalizes Parents (video)
2022 – Former GHAPS Board President Carl Treutler discusses LGBTQ Teen Suicide
2022-23 – The Whole Child Approach to Education
Professional Development
2020 – August – White Privilege (video)
2021 – March – Cultural Competency with Dr. Tyrone Howard
2021 – May – Brave and Courageous Conversations (white privilege videos from Justin Wilford)
2021 – December – Deanna Rolffs – video of Deanna Rolffs
Many leaders at GHAPS have been pushing these initiatives, but there are some teachers and personnel that do not agree with these ideas. Unfortunately, they understand that if they speak up, they will likely be retaliated against and have a high likelihood of losing their jobs.
In the coming years, it is essential that we change this culture, and rebuild a school district where children are taught to think independently. Kids need to learn how to have respectful debates and not be protected with safe spaces that shield them from hearing opposing viewpoints. They need to learn reading, writing, math, skills traditionally taught in home economics and shop classes, and proficiency in money management. They need to know that taking on traditional gender roles is acceptable. Girls who want to be mothers, and boys who want to be police officers should be celebrated. Spiritual teachings and teachings on morals and sexuality, need to be led by parents. Parents need to be recognized as experts in their children, and partners of the schools, not dismissed because they lack teaching credentials. These changes will enable our children to become independent adults.