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December 19, 2025
GLPS Families:
Last week, I wrote about snow days, and today was a great example of how unpredictable the weather can be! The forecasted flash freeze, ice, and snow never materialized overnight, and we had dry pavement this morning when we got up early to check the roads. I know there was a high expectation for a snow day, but the weather just did not cooperate!
I am glad we were able to have school today, though, as the weeks leading up to winter break are often fun and exciting for families, staff, and students, from door decorating to spirit weeks to sing-alongs to performances to classroom celebrations. In alignment with our strategic plan, we are also making a concerted effort to ensure that we are highlighting and recognizing all of our families’ celebrations, and building in opportunities for students to see their traditions reflected in what we do, while also learning about the December celebrations that are important to their classmates. We still have work to do on this, but I appreciate the engagement and efforts of all of you, and our staff, in helping us move in that direction.
Despite the fact that we did not have a snow day today, I know that some households did receive a much more frustrating early morning call. We had to cancel a couple of bus routes again today as we work to fill positions in our transportation department. As an organization with around 700 employees, attrition is a natural part of the process, as folks seek other opportunities, retire, or move. This means that we constantly have job openings on our careers page, and right now, we are in need of folks, not only in the transportation department, but across our employee groups. As families, you can be our best recruiters, so I invite you to take a look at the page and the information provided about the district, our location, our staff culture, and our leadership. Our collective bargaining agreements have highly competitive wages, benefits, and working condition packages in them, and we strive every day to live up to our belief that GLPS staff are professionals who are vital to the health and future of the Grand Ledge community. As you know, GLPS was voted the Best Public School District again and was a finalist for Best Place to Work in the Lansing area again this year in the 2025 Community Choice Awards, and we love to have new people join our team, regardless of the role! So, when you see that relative or friend over the break who is thinking about a career change, put in a plug for GLPS; it truly is a wonderful place to learn and grow!
As we head into the two week winter break, I want to take this opportunity to wish you the happiest of holidays, and the very best for you and your family's celebrations in the coming weeks. I look forward to continuing the important work of Growing Learners and Preparing students when we return in 2026. As always, I am #proudtobeacomet!
Dr. Bill Barnes
Superintendent of Schools
