Please view my message here if you need translation services.
February 28, 2025
GLPS Families,
Last week, I shared information about the growth of our district, school funding sources, and the connections between the district and the community that strengthen both. This week, as a follow-up, I thought I would take a deeper dive into some of the structures that support the work we do in the school system, and highlight and recognize the positive organizations that are making a difference. As someone who grew up here, and now as a dad watching my own kids go through the district, I know firsthand that Grand Ledge Public Schools has a long-standing tradition of strong community support, and we are fortunate to have so many people willing to give their time, talents, and resources to support our students and staff. Family and community involvement is at the heart of our schools’ success. When we work together with positivity and shared purpose, and our various groups truly work as an extension and representative of our schools, we create an exceptional learning environment for our children.
Every school year, I schedule a visit to the PTO/PTA/PTIA for each of our elementary schools, Hayes, and Beagle, and I appreciate the focus on raising funds and providing volunteers for our schools. While these volunteer-led organizations do not fall under GLPS oversight for practical and legal reasons, they play a big role in supporting our schools through fundraising, event planning, and more. I encourage you to reach out to the parent organization for your school and see how you can help. These organizations work best when the volunteers in them focus on working alongside our school staff to provide opportunities for our students, and they are a great way to make a positive difference in the lives of students through relationship building and positive connections with other families.
It is also important to recognize the various booster groups that help support specific programs, from athletics to the arts. Running high-quality extra- and co-curricular programming is expensive and time-consuming, and the countless volunteers and supporters involved with these groups help make these opportunities possible for our kids. Like the PTO/PTA/PTIA organizations, these groups do not fall under GLPS oversight either, but are run by dedicated volunteers and boards who work hard to provide exceptional experiences for GLPS students. Many of the wonderful opportunities, and the success of our programs, would not be possible without them!
Finally, in addition to PTO/PTA/PTIA’s and booster groups, we are also fortunate to have strong partnerships with community organizations like the Grand Ledge Education Foundation (GLEF). This organization provides grants to our schools and teachers to support innovative programs and projects that enhance the learning experience for our students. GLEF’s biggest fundraiser is the Comet Chase 5K. This event takes place the morning of the Grand Ledge Chamber of Commerce's Yankee Doodle Day and is a fun way to get active and support our students. You can register to walk or run here, and the funds raised will go directly into classroom programming throughout the district.
As you know, I like to always root our work in our strategic plan and board policies, so I would remind you that one of our beliefs statements is "We believe in partnerships between the family, community, and education stakeholders for the success of GLPS," and board policy 9210 outlines our relationship with the various support organizations in our district. Collectively, these organizations help us educate our 5,400 GLPS students, and help us build the wonderful programs that allow us to continue to provide outstanding opportunities across the district.
Thank you for your ongoing support, commitment, and care for the GLPS students, staff, and community.
Have a great weekend; as always, I am #proudtobeacomet!
Dr. Bill Barnes
Superintendent of Schools
