August 11, 2026

2026-2027 Welcome Back

Superintendent: Superintendent Messages

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August 11, 2026

GLPS Families,

It is hard to believe, but we are two weeks away from kicking off the 2026-2027 school year! For those returning to GLPS, welcome back, and for those new to the district, we are excited to have you join the Comet Family. We are looking forward to welcoming students and families into our buildings next week for schedule pickups, open houses, launches, and orientations, and then the following week for our first day of school on Tuesday, August 25th (please see the district calendar for specific information). It has been a busy summer getting ready to continue to live up to our mission, vision, beliefs, and focus areas, and we are ready to get back to teaching and learning in a couple of weeks!

As we head into the start of the new year, there are a couple of items I want to highlight for you:

While the state legislature allocated funds again in this year’s budget to continue the free lunch program for all students, it is important that families who qualify fill out the Education & Meals Benefit Application. So please do your part, check the chart. Accurate free and reduced lunch counts help fund district programs and ensure that we continue to qualify for a variety of funding sources that help us provide support for students and families in the district.
You will notice that the language under supply lists on our website has been updated to say GLPS will provide all of the school supplies your child will need, and you are NOT expected to purchase any. However, some families may still choose to purchase additional items, so these lists are provided only as an optional resource. Purchasing items from these lists is NOT necessary for your child to participate fully in school. We have allocated funding in our budget this year to ensure that all students have the supplies they need to succeed; it is our responsibility to make sure that we are providing them. Some families like to purchase their own supplies or make donations, and you are certainly welcome to do so, based on the lists on your school’s webpage, but we will make sure your children have the supplies they need to learn!
Last evening, 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. Stay tuned!

I will begin my regular updates, including a welcome back to school message, on Friday, August 21st. In the meantime, our offices are open and office staffs are back in action, so please reach out to your specific building with questions or concerns about the start of the year. Again, we look forward to serving all of Comet Country for the 2026-2027 school year, and we are eager to hit the ground running on August 25th. Have a great end to summer break, and as always, I am #proudtobeacomet!

Dr. Bill Barnes
Superintendent of Schools

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