By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
The 2026-27 school year at Zeeland Public Schools will get underway next Wednesday.
The second year for ZPS Superintendent Rod Hetherton includes new specialty programs that were adopted last spring, and initially generated some controversy in the community.
“Change can be difficult, especially when families care deeply about a program their children are part of,” Hetherton said. “Since then, we’ve seen a real sense of renewed energy around our programming, and the enrollment numbers give us a lot of confidence that we’re headed in the right direction.”
One of the programs that has been added this year is ZPBL, a project-based learning program that is open to all students in kindergarten through eighth grade. ZPBL is split into three divisions:
• PreK-2nd grade: farm-based learning experiences
• 3rd-5th grade: on-campus outdoor education and project work
• 6th-8th grade: extension opportunities and projects
ZPBL will follow the track that ends at Zeeland West High School. The program will be based at Quincy Elementary School for PreK through fifth grade, and at Creekside Middle School for sixth through eighth grade. Nearly 200 students have enrolled in ZPBL for this fall, Hetherton said.
ZPS’ Spanish immersion program has changed, with that program now based at Lincoln Elementary School. The program will be offered beginning at the pre-kindergarten level, making Zeeland the first district in Ottawa County to offer Spanish immersion to PreK students. Zeeland East High School Principal Jessica Knoth has had her role expanded to include that of being director of Spanish immersion. The program will follow the track that ends at Zeeland East.
ZPS has also added the 4E and 5E extension program at all of the district’s elementary schools, a change from the gifted and talented program that had been based at Woodbridge Elementary School. The idea behind 4E/5E is for students at all elementary buildings to have access to advanced learning opportunities in their home buildings.
Also new this school year is ZVirtual, an opportunity for students who seek greater flexibility in their learning by taking course work online. It replaces the Venture alternative education program and Michigan Virtual online coursework.
“(Families) want more flexibility and more opportunities to customize their child’s learning experience. We know students are growing up in a global, increasingly digital world, and we want to prepare them for that while still keeping relationships at the center of everything we do,” Hetherton said.
ZPS did a trial run of ZVirtual this summer, and Hetherton is pleased with the results.
“Of the 54 students who participated, 43 earned credit, a record for us in summer credit recovery,” the superintendent said.
With the start of the new school year comes the start of new projects from the $186.4 million bond issue that district voters approved last November. Much of the initial focus early on will be on design and planning for these projects.
“This includes the significant renovation of Creekside Middle School, improvements at Roosevelt, early work at Lincoln Elementary, and new and updated transportation and maintenance facilities,” Hetherton said.
“These projects are part of a much broader plan that will eventually include elementary playground improvements, auditorium updates, Zeeland Stadium improvements, new classrooms and robotics space at Zeeland West, the new Zeeland Activity Center, technology and infrastructure upgrades, and more.”
Design work is already underway on additional classroom space at Creekside, and construction there is expected to get underway next spring, Hetherton said.
ZPS begins the school year facing financial challenges. The Board of Education cut 22 staff positions, primarily teaching and support staff, when it passed the 2026-27 budget in June. Despite those cuts, the adopted budget projected the use of about $6 million of general fund reserves. Hetherton is hopeful ZPS will be able to find savings to lessen the impact on the fund balance.
“Our approach this year will be cautious and very intentional,” he said. “We’ll be watching enrollment, staffing, funding, and spending trends closely. As opportunities arise from vacancies, attrition, purchasing decisions, or other efficiencies, we’ll evaluate them carefully and look for ways to improve the budget.
“The goal is not simply to make cuts. It’s to make smart, sustainable decisions that protect the student experience while steadily strengthening our financial position.”
ZPS has projected a decline in enrollment for 2026-27, largely following enrollment trends across the state. However, Hetherton is confident the district will be able to minimize that decline.
“Our best enrollment strategy is to offer an outstanding experience for kids. When families see strong academics, great teachers, meaningful choices, and a community that genuinely knows and cares about their children, that’s what makes them want to be part of ZPS,” he said.
ZPS’ projected enrollment in the fall is 5,709 students, down from 5,861 during the 2025-26 school year. The district has seen its enrollment fall more than 600 students from its enrollment peak of 6,354 in the 2018-19 school year. However, the district has seen an increase in students from outside the district boundaries enrolling through schools of choice.
Important dates on this year’s ZPS calendar are below:
• Labor Day Break – Sept. 4 & 7
• Thanksgiving Break – Nov. 25-27
• Holiday Break – Dec. 21-Jan. 1
• Winter Break – Feb. 15-16
• Spring Break – April 2-9
• Memorial Day – May 31
• Last Day of School – June 11
The 2026-27 ZPS calendar can be found online at zps.org/parents/calendars.
Zeeland Record
The 2026-27 school year at Zeeland Public Schools will get underway next Wednesday.
The second year for ZPS Superintendent Rod Hetherton includes new specialty programs that were adopted last spring, and initially generated some controversy in the community.
“Change can be difficult, especially when families care deeply about a program their children are part of,” Hetherton said. “Since then, we’ve seen a real sense of renewed energy around our programming, and the enrollment numbers give us a lot of confidence that we’re headed in the right direction.”
One of the programs that has been added this year is ZPBL, a project-based learning program that is open to all students in kindergarten through eighth grade. ZPBL is split into three divisions:
• PreK-2nd grade: farm-based learning experiences
• 3rd-5th grade: on-campus outdoor education and project work
• 6th-8th grade: extension opportunities and projects
ZPBL will follow the track that ends at Zeeland West High School. The program will be based at Quincy Elementary School for PreK through fifth grade, and at Creekside Middle School for sixth through eighth grade. Nearly 200 students have enrolled in ZPBL for this fall, Hetherton said.
ZPS’ Spanish immersion program has changed, with that program now based at Lincoln Elementary School. The program will be offered beginning at the pre-kindergarten level, making Zeeland the first district in Ottawa County to offer Spanish immersion to PreK students. Zeeland East High School Principal Jessica Knoth has had her role expanded to include that of being director of Spanish immersion. The program will follow the track that ends at Zeeland East.
ZPS has also added the 4E and 5E extension program at all of the district’s elementary schools, a change from the gifted and talented program that had been based at Woodbridge Elementary School. The idea behind 4E/5E is for students at all elementary buildings to have access to advanced learning opportunities in their home buildings.
Also new this school year is ZVirtual, an opportunity for students who seek greater flexibility in their learning by taking course work online. It replaces the Venture alternative education program and Michigan Virtual online coursework.
“(Families) want more flexibility and more opportunities to customize their child’s learning experience. We know students are growing up in a global, increasingly digital world, and we want to prepare them for that while still keeping relationships at the center of everything we do,” Hetherton said.
ZPS did a trial run of ZVirtual this summer, and Hetherton is pleased with the results.
“Of the 54 students who participated, 43 earned credit, a record for us in summer credit recovery,” the superintendent said.
With the start of the new school year comes the start of new projects from the $186.4 million bond issue that district voters approved last November. Much of the initial focus early on will be on design and planning for these projects.
“This includes the significant renovation of Creekside Middle School, improvements at Roosevelt, early work at Lincoln Elementary, and new and updated transportation and maintenance facilities,” Hetherton said.
“These projects are part of a much broader plan that will eventually include elementary playground improvements, auditorium updates, Zeeland Stadium improvements, new classrooms and robotics space at Zeeland West, the new Zeeland Activity Center, technology and infrastructure upgrades, and more.”
Design work is already underway on additional classroom space at Creekside, and construction there is expected to get underway next spring, Hetherton said.
ZPS begins the school year facing financial challenges. The Board of Education cut 22 staff positions, primarily teaching and support staff, when it passed the 2026-27 budget in June. Despite those cuts, the adopted budget projected the use of about $6 million of general fund reserves. Hetherton is hopeful ZPS will be able to find savings to lessen the impact on the fund balance.
“Our approach this year will be cautious and very intentional,” he said. “We’ll be watching enrollment, staffing, funding, and spending trends closely. As opportunities arise from vacancies, attrition, purchasing decisions, or other efficiencies, we’ll evaluate them carefully and look for ways to improve the budget.
“The goal is not simply to make cuts. It’s to make smart, sustainable decisions that protect the student experience while steadily strengthening our financial position.”
ZPS has projected a decline in enrollment for 2026-27, largely following enrollment trends across the state. However, Hetherton is confident the district will be able to minimize that decline.
“Our best enrollment strategy is to offer an outstanding experience for kids. When families see strong academics, great teachers, meaningful choices, and a community that genuinely knows and cares about their children, that’s what makes them want to be part of ZPS,” he said.
ZPS’ projected enrollment in the fall is 5,709 students, down from 5,861 during the 2025-26 school year. The district has seen its enrollment fall more than 600 students from its enrollment peak of 6,354 in the 2018-19 school year. However, the district has seen an increase in students from outside the district boundaries enrolling through schools of choice.
Important dates on this year’s ZPS calendar are below:
• Labor Day Break – Sept. 4 & 7
• Thanksgiving Break – Nov. 25-27
• Holiday Break – Dec. 21-Jan. 1
• Winter Break – Feb. 15-16
• Spring Break – April 2-9
• Memorial Day – May 31
• Last Day of School – June 11
The 2026-27 ZPS calendar can be found online at zps.org/parents/calendars.
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