Superintendent

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October 3, 2025

GLPS Families,

As we enter the first week of October, teaching and learning are in full swing around the district. Wednesday of this week was student count day, and we continue to go against statewide trends as our district has grown again since last year. New housing and new businesses, particularly in Delta Township, coupled with academic growth and community pride in our schools, make GLPS a school district destination for families, and we are proud of the staff, families, students, and programming that make GLPS a tremendous place to learn and grow. I also want to point out that we are in Hispanic Heritage Month, and that next week, across the district we will be participating in a spirit week to celebrate the members of our school community who have Hispanic heritage. Please see your building’s newsletters for more information, or click here to see the flyer.

Thankfully, late last evening, the legislature passed a school aid budget, which includes free school meals for students. So, that means we will continue to provide free meals for the 2025-2026 school year! Our food service team is ready to provide nutritious and delicious breakfasts and lunches for our kids. However, as we have mentioned numerous times this year, we ask that you still please fill out the Education & Meals Benefit Application if you qualify, because it allows us to provide additional services across the district. 

Finally, as I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, I want to focus our attention on the academic systems that make the student growth and achievement that I shared with you possible. One of those systems is our professional learning plan for our staff. Today, while students had the day off, our staff was in the district, learning and growing themselves. Our teachers, paraeducators, teacher assistants, health care TA’s, nurses, counselors, deans, and administrators spent the day collaborating around instructional systems that maximize student learning, including implementing curriculum and clearly defining what we want students to learn. Our bus drivers and secretaries were engaged in professional learning as well, focusing on a book study that our instructional staff completed last year, designed to help them understand how to recognize student needs and create calm learning spaces for our kids. In our strategic plan, we state that we believe the GLPS staff are professionals who are vital to the health and future of the Grand Ledge community; this means that we need to invest in their professional growth, as evidenced by our work today and on all professional learning days throughout the year.

As I wrap up, I just want to tell you how much I appreciate the opportunity to work with you and your students every day. After all, another one of our belief statements is that we believe in partnerships between the family, community, and education stakeholders for the success of GLPS. Thank you for all you do to support the teaching and learning that occurs each and every day at GLPS, and thank you for helping us create such an outstanding school district. Have a wonderful weekend; as always, I am #proudtobeacomet!

Dr. Bill Barnes
Superintendent of Schools