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August 21, 2026
GLPS Families,
As we head into the last weekend of summer break for 2026, I want to take this opportunity to welcome you to the 2026-2027 school year! Our staff has been back in buildings this week, preparing to officially welcome our learners back next Tuesday. It was wonderful to see so many of you at open houses, launches, and orientations all week long; there is a lot of excitement for the start of the new year!
As we kick things off, I have a couple of updates for you:
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To help ensure that you are getting your questions answered and that you are receiving the support you need this school year, we have developed a Grand Ledge Public Schools Effective Communication and Problem Solving Model. This document outlines communication pathways for a variety of departments and needs, and it contains live links that will take you to department specific websites or staff directories for ease of communication. Please use this as a guide if you have specific needs or questions around any of the areas in the document.
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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.
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Our district operates in accordance with the mission, vision, and beliefs embedded within our strategic plan, and our school improvement initiatives fall under each of the five focus areas. We expect you to hold us accountable to the values outlined here, and so I always like to start the school year with a reminder that these ideals guide our work. In July, I presented data collected throughout the 2025-2026 school year to the Board of Education, outlining how well we are living up to our mission, vision, and beliefs. I am proud of the growth we continue to make, and excited to continue to work together to ensure that we are living up to our strategic plan every single day.
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As a reminder, 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!
That is all I have for this week. I can’t wait to have students back in buildings and learning on Tuesday. I am so thankful that I have the opportunity to learn, grow, and lead here in Comet Country, and I know we will have an outstanding school year together. Have a wonderful weekend, and as always, I am #proudtobeacomet!
Dr. Bill Barnes
Superintendent of Schools
