Superintendent

GLPS Families,

As we wrap up our third week of school, it is wonderful to see the learning routines that have been established across the district, and the growth that we have seen in our students already! To start today,  I want to remind you to check last week’s message . It contains opportunities for you to provide input and engage with the district in a variety of ways, and we would love to have you be a part of some of those conversations. Check it out, and sign up! I also want to take a moment to honor and remember the lives lost 25 years ago during the tragic events of September 11, 2001, as well as to share our gratitude for the first responders, service members, and everyday heroes whose courage and unity continue to inspire us. 

For the rest of my message this week, I want to share more about our upcoming bond proposal for this November. You can learn more about it at  GLcomets.net/Bond2026. Back in August, I let you know that  the board approved ballot language for a zero mil increase over our current rate bond proposal. This follows the communication, input sessions, and leg work we did with architects TMP and construction managers Clark last spring. The proposed projects are dedicated to providing some much needed relief in terms of classroom spaces across the district, and they are closely aligned to the district’s facilities management plan. Much more information will be shared throughout the fall, including specific projects. 

This means that you will have the opportunity to vote on a proposal in November that will bring much needed relief for the growing student population within our growing community, and help us continue to ensure that we are building a smarter, stronger, and safer school district to serve our families and students. As I mentioned, this proposal will  not raise our current millage rate, but will generate enough revenue, when combined with our sinking fund, to add classrooms and additional safety measures to our K-12 buildings and our Delta Mills Early Childhood Center, upgrade out-of-date instructional spaces and infrastructure throughout the district, create additional instructional spaces, and enhance some of our outdated athletic facilities. Based on staff and community input, our partners, Clark and TMP, have helped us develop a plan that will continue to live up to our mission of Growing Learners and Preparing Students in school buildings that are maximized for learning, efficiency, and safety.

We will continue to share information with you throughout the fall, including releasing a series of videos in which I explain what is happening at each site around the district. In the meantime, I invite you to take a look at our newly updated  Bond 2026 web page. It has a variety of information, including a frequently asked questions document that contains a list of upgrades by building. I also invite you to save the date for September 29th and October 15th from 6-8 as we will host community open houses here at Sawdon to answer questions and discuss the projects in detail.

I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that we have been educating families in our community since 1851, marking 175 years of creating meaningful learning experiences for the kids in our community. The very first one room school house, tucked into a clearing in the woods near what is now City Hall, was built by Grand Ledge residents because they understood the value of a strong education. In our community, we still recognize that value today, and throughout the region we are viewed as one of the best school districts around. As I shared with you in a previous message, that confidence has been rewarded with the Best School District designation three years in a row! But, that level of excellence only exists because of the strong partnerships between our families, the entire Comet Country community, our district, our staff, and our kids. It is because of those partnerships, and the opportunity I have to lead and serve this amazing school district and all of the people in it, that I am #proudtobeacomet!