Dear Lansing School District Community,

As always, it is a pleasure to write to you all. I visited almost every school this week, greeting students, staff, and families. I saw students get off the school bus and bound toward school, hugging their teachers and their friends. I saw a few parents drop their children off for the first time, fighting back tears. I saw our educators stand at the front door, welcoming our families with open arms and huge smiles. I was thrilled to see so many of our Lansing families this week.

I hope that everyone enjoyed the first week of school. It was a truly momentous four days. On Monday, we agreed to an incredible four-year contract with the Lansing Schools Education Association. This compact now means that our first-year teachers will be some of the highest-paid educators in Mid-Michigan. We believe that this will allow us to recruit and retain high-caliber staff. The agreement also solidifies not just this year's calendar but the school calendar for the next four school years. The contract also unfreezes many staff who had their salaries unmoved for years. There is much to be pleased with this contract. It is good for our employees, and it is good for the district as a whole. As Chuck Alberts, the union president, has said, "this contract helps to make Lansing a destination district." I couldn't agree more. Lansing is going to be a destination for students, families, and educators.

I want to personally thank Chuck and the entire LSEA negotiating team for their strong and vociferous advocacy, not just for their members but for our students and the district writ large. Even though the bargaining was intense, all parties were always working together to better our community. I am very happy with the new contract. It treats our educators as the true professionals that they are, and it creates a long-term agreement that will better our entire district.

This week, we also saw the opening of Lansing Tech, the opening of Attwood as a K-8, North as a K-8, and a merged Willow/Riddle. I was so impressed with how the staff of the combined schools were able to seamlessly coalesce and create these wonderful new institutions. Thank you to all of you who helped create these schools.

And, in possibly the most amazing news, our transportation to school worked better this week than it has in years. With the combination of CATA passes, gas cards, and Dean buses, we were able to have school buses more on time on our routes this first week than in the last two years. At every school I visited, the buses dropped off and picked up on time. A few times, I even saw buses arrive early and have to wait for students to be dismissed. I know it is only the first week, but I really do hope that this is a harbinger of things to come.

We will have good days and bad days as a district, but I hope that you, like me, are really starting to feel a change in our district, a positive movement forward. We have miles to go, but the momentum is building.

Thank you so much for all of your incredible support of our district. Together, we will do great things for the children of Lansing.

Benjamin Shuldiner, Superintendent

Lansing School District

Joseph Pizzo, Sexton High School Senior

When you think about Lansing rivalries, one of the first that might come to mind is that of our very own Sexton and Everett High Schools. Both schools have an active following that reaches far into our community, and there is a LOT of passion involved — regardless of which school you are rooting for. Nowhere can that "sibling rivalry" be seen better than when our sports teams have the opportunity to hash it out on the field.

Such was the case for the August 24 season-opener that pitted the J-Dubbs against the Vikings. The game was tight, and the score was in favor of the Vikings, but Sexton Quarterback Joseph Pizzo shut them down with a remarkable performance. Pizzo ran for an impressive 195 yards (nearly TWICE the length of the field) and scored two touchdowns — leading Sexton to a 23-20 comeback victory!

"His dedication as a student-athlete with a 3.8 GPA is certainly commendable," said Sexton Principal Daniel Boggan II who says Pizzo is "an excellent example of excellence both on and off the field." Boggan isn't the only one to take note of Pizzo though — he has an offer from Davenport waiting for him when he graduates!

"Do the right thing — even when no one is looking," said Sexton Athletic Director Anthony Brandon, "Joseph Pizzo exemplifies that!" It is only fitting then that we give Joseph Pizzo some well-deserved recognition! Keep up the good work, Joseph!

Check out the Lansing State Journal video!

Lansing Technical High School is proud to introduce Jeffrey Martin, the Computer Science Focus Teacher at Lansing Technical High School! Martin has worked for the Lansing School District for many years at J.W. Sexton High School and is thrilled to be making his mark at our brand-new technical school!

In addition to his teaching experience at Sexton, Mr. Martin brings with him a bachelor's from the University of Michigan Flint and a master's from Marygrove in Detroit, MI! But what he offers doesn't stop at those on-paper credentials though, he also packs enthusiasm, a growth mindset, and dedication to his role and to Lansing students.

The programming at Lansing Technical is a bit different than the other high schools, but students are happy when they see a familiar face in the new place. Martin has already made connections with most of his students and their families, and he celebrates the newfound opportunity to continue developing his program and approach.

"Jeff is a dedicated professional who has given time and energy beyond what is expected," said Lansing Technical Principal Anthony Greenberg who notes that Jeff's enthusiasm is marked by his willingness to try anything, be flexible, and by his smile!

Lansing Technical is lucky to have him on the team!

On August 24, community members gathered with district staff, the Lansing School District executive team, members of the board of education, and Lansing VIPs — including Mayor Andy Schor — at Mt. Hope School grounds to commemorate the groundbreaking of construction for the new school!

"Mt. Hope was always a great school, but it was built in the 1940s and wasn't suitable for the students and teachers today. We're excited for this historic occasion to give our next generation of students modern buildings capable of modern education," said Ben Shuldiner, Superintendent.

We appreciate the Lansing community for its generous support of the 2022 bond initiative.

YOU made a brand new school possible for our students. Thank you!

In preparation for the school year, incoming Lansing Technical High students and their families were welcomed onto campus for an open house! Students were able to meet their teachers, tour the facilities, and learn more about what's in store for them as they start their high school career at this one-of-a-kind school!

Gone are the days when students interested in technical education had to wait until their junior year of high school to get anywhere with it. At Lansing Technical, we're offering a full FOUR YEARS of career technical education — two more years than anywhere else! In a traditional setting, CTE education is more of an aside... something you do for a couple of hours each day that operates separately from the rest of your day, maybe even in a different building... not here. Your chosen track (and there are FOUR) will be touched upon in all of your core classes as well!

So, if you find yourself in your math class wondering how, why, or where you're EVER going to use the Pythagorean Theorem, join us at Lansing Technical! We'll show you in ways that make sense to you and your interests, because, isn't that what it's all about?!

As you may recall, last year Everett students in Ms. Harkness' Environmental Science Class, the Gender & Sexuality Alliance (GSA), and Ms. Collins art class joined forces to create their Peace & Inclusivity Garden. That beautiful project received finishing touches recently, thanks to Lansing School District Director of Health Susan Wheeler, who brought in some bricks, dirt, and mulch! The group also put the finishing touches on the sign, and we must say, the project turned out AMAZING!

Everett Clinic LPN Kelly Line was thrilled to relay that tomatoes had been coming on and there are a TON! You haven't had a tomato until you've had one that's homegrown and Line wants to remind Everett students, their families, and the community to stop by and grab some! Not a tomato fan? There are other delicious foods to pick from as well! If you visit though, please do remember to be kind and respectful during your stay.

As if the ability to feed a small village of Vikings isn't enough of a mark of success for this project, it looks as though Mother Nature herself is singing her praise. The Pollinator Garden is attracting so many bees — easily 30-40 out at the same time! There's always room for more pollinators though as they also seem to love the Peace Poles!

On August 24, families were invited to an open house at North Elementary School (K-8) where they had the opportunity to meet Superintendent Shuldiner, Principal Mask, their teachers, and other staff members. Students were able to plant baby spider plants as a nod to the school's Environmental Science focus, visit their classrooms, and even pick their classroom seats! What a great night for family fun and community!