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March 14, 2025
GLPS Families,
As we approach mid-March and kick off our third trimester, we are looking forward to a positive spring and a strong finish to the 2024-2025 school year. From a leadership perspective, we are also focused on the planning required to have a successful 2025-2026 school year. Budgeting, enrollment projections, school improvement initiatives, professional learning plans, and goal-setting are all critical steps in ensuring a strong start next fall, and all of that work is underway throughout the district. Our district’s goals are guided by Board Policies and our Strategic Plan, but feedback from our students and families plays a crucial role in driving improvement. Your voice matters, and we truly appreciate the time you take to share your insights with us.
A key part of this process is understanding and responding to the needs of our students. To those ends, we have multiple avenues for collecting insights from students, families, and the community. Throughout the year, I have met with student groups at all of our buildings to hear their thoughts on how well we are meeting their needs. (I bring pizza to the meeting, which always helps with the conversation!) In addition, GLPS is participating in the MI Student Voice project again this spring for grades 5-12. This initiative, in partnership with districts across the state, provides students with a direct and anonymous way to share their experiences and perspectives. We also have a variety of student clubs and organizations throughout the district that create ways for students to elevate their voices and provide us with insights as to how we are doing.
Aside from your students, your input is essential, too, not just in helping us finish this school year successfully, but in shaping the systems and supports that will enhance learning and operations next year. Enrollment for next year is underway, and we need to understand where and how we need to improve. As I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, one way that I get that feedback from families is through PTO/PTA/PTIA meetings, and I also engage with families through our Caregiver School Improvement Team. In fact, we had our fourth Caregiver School Improvement Team meeting of the year last evening, and we discussed operations goals for the district. Additionally, I value the direct feedback I receive through emails, phone calls, and conversations at district events. At the building level, we offer further opportunities such as conferences, surveys, and parent engagement events. Collectively, this information provides us with your perspectives, which allows us to understand where we are succeeding and where we need to grow.
I am sharing this with you today because when we get back from spring break, I will be sending some feedback surveys. I want you to be aware that they are coming, that the information is valuable to us, and we do listen. So, when those surveys are sent in a couple of weeks, please take a few moments to provide us with feedback so that we can improve.
I appreciate your support; thank you for giving us the opportunity to work with you and your children every day. As always, I am #proudtobeacomet!
Dr. Bill Barnes
Superintendent of Schools
