Dear Lansing School District Community,

I hope that this newsletter finds you well. As always, it is a pleasure to be writing to you all.

A little past noon, on Thursday, October 10th, 2024, in the Gardner School library, the Governor of the State of Michigan, Gretchen Whitmer, flanked by State Senators and Representatives, along with labor leaders, parent activists, educators, and students, signed into law two historic bills that will help support education for thousands of students. The fact that this incredible event occurred in the library of one of our schools is a testament to the incredible hard work of our district. Being chosen as the location to host such an important event speaks volumes about how the Governor and the entire state apparatus think about the work we have done in this district.

Though it might seem that this was just a press event, so much goes into the decision to choose a location and its speakers and what they are asked to say. Each of these considerations showed just how far we have come as a school district in such a brief time.

1) Picking Lansing

The fact that the Governor's staff wanted to hold the event in Lansing showed that we, as a city and school district, are back on the map for the Governor and the state. Because this is a bill for the entire state, the Governor could've held it anywhere. The idea of doing this in Lansing rather than Detroit, Grand Rapids, or Kalamazoo is a testament to the new power of Lansing.

2) Picking a Lansing School District School.

The Governor's office could've easily picked a school district office building or a small elementary school in Okemos to do this presentation. Instead, we were able to host it at Gardner, a 900+ student, K-8 school. This usually scares advance teams. There are so many logistics, and so many things can go wrong. But because of their trust in us, the Governor's people were thrilled to host a very large event at Gardner. This cannot be overstated. The fact that they held the event at a large, urban K-8 school, with students in the audience, and with an "open room" with glass windows looking in, is mind-blowing to me. It really shows an incredible faith in our district.

3) Having the Superintendent open the event with an unscripted speech.

The idea that they had me open the press conference and allowed me to say whatever I wanted is a show of faith and support that rarely occurs in an event like this. In fact, the only direction the Governor's office gave me was: talk about all the things the district has accomplished in the last three years. Now, I hope you all know I will always go off-script to make our district look great, but the idea that they didn't even try to give me a script and only directed me to brag about the district is a paradigm shift for us. The state superintendent didn't speak (he was in the audience), other superintendents didn't speak (they were in the audience), and no other education administrator spoke. The other educator who spoke was our wonderful LSEA Union President Chuck Alberts, which is another testament to the place of the Lansing School District in our state. The Governor's office wanted this to be about her bill signing and the great work we have done in Lansing. That is wonderful.

I was honored and humbled to be asked not only to speak but also to start off the entire event by talking about what we have accomplished in these last few years. We are becoming a state-wide story of success in urban public education. I was able to mention that we have raised our graduation rate by more than 23%, that we have raised our attendance rate by more than 13%, that we have reduced our dropout rate to single digits, that we have increased our enrollment for the first time in over three decades. I celebrated being the first and only district to truly have a universal Pre-Kindergarten program, the creation of Lansing Tech, our 4-year Career and Technical Education High School, the opening of our Newcomer Center, the new school buildings we are opening and the older facilities we are renovating. And there were so many other projects and programs I didn't have the time to mention. But the most important part of the short speech was to thank all of you for making this possible. It is the faith and belief, the hard work and determination of our educators, students, parents, and community members that is helping to write a new chapter, not only for the Lansing School District but for the entire country, showing what is possible in large, urban school districts.

All of you reading this newsletter can take enormous pride in what we have accomplished and continue to accomplish. We have a long way to go to where we want to be, but the progress so far has been terrific. And please know that each and every one of you are part of this amazing success story.

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

Lansing School District Junior Board members recently signed in for their first meeting. To start the year right, the Junior Board Cabinet introduced themselves. Then they mixed it up to meet students from other schools and find common ground for change within the district. Also discussed during the meeting were this year's theme, upcoming dates, and school reports. Lansing School District Board Trustee Guillermo Lopez was even on hand to give a presentation to the Junior Board members about the Charter of the City of Lansing. Of course, the day wouldn't have been the same without great snacks and a visit from Superintendent Ben.

North School's first Harvest Festival was a lively celebration filled with laughter and learning! Students and staff came together to explore the health benefits of cooking with the organic produce they had nurtured since spring. From veggie tastings to hands-on cooking demos, everyone got to roll up their sleeves and create delicious dishes. It was a day of fun, community, and a newfound appreciation for the fruits of their labor!

Our Adult Education program had their first breakfast gathering of the year which brought students and staff together to connect and enjoy a delicious meal. After breakfast, the group embarked on a trip to the General Motors Grand River Plant where students had the chance to explore the heart of local manufacturing. The enriching experience fostered camaraderie and inspired conversations about the future of manufacturing. We look forward to many more memorable moments this year!

The Lansing School District values your partnership and feedback. To help us understand how we can better serve your family, please complete your district survey at the link below.

Here are a few things to keep in mind:

A student’s ID number can be found in your family’s ParentVue account and the survey window for families will remain open through the month of October. Your honest feedback on a wide range of topics—from academic programs to school climate—is critical for our continuous improvement.

Please take a few moments to share your thoughts with us. Your voice matters and will help shape the future of our district.

Click here to start!

Students from Gardner International Magnet recently attended a presentation from the Lansing City Clerk's office. During the presentation, students learned about voting and also participated in a mock election. We cannot wait to see how these Global Guardians make a positive impact in their communities as they grow!

In order to deliver resources and education on a variety of tax-related topics, the Internal Revenue Services Stakeholder Liaison Office forms strategic partnerships with many organizations, including educational institutions and public school districts. Our liaison reached out recently to stress refundable tax credits for all taxpayers filing an extension in 2024, and for all eligible taxpayers getting ready for filing season 2025.

Unlike nonrefundable tax credits, which can only reduce your tax owed to zero, a refundable tax credit can actually reduce your tax liability to BELOW zero, resulting in a cash refund from the government. Tax credits help working taxpayers. However, there are many individuals and families who are eligible for these tax credits but don't claim them.

The IRS estimates that while four out of every five eligible taxpayers claim the Earned Income Tax Credit, there are MILLIONS of eligible taxpayers who do not. In the following refundable credit bundle (Publication 6011), you'll find information about refundable tax credits, as well as QR codes to check your eligibility for each. Don't miss your opportunity to get the most out of your tax refund!

The Board of Education and Executive Team members along with Superintendent Shuldiner recently toured construction sites and improvement projects across the school district. The outing allowed for a firsthand look at some of the new learning spaces and renovations that will ultimately benefit our students and families.

What is PCAC?

The Lansing School District Parent/Community Advisory Council is a district wide council consisting of parents, teachers, principals, and community members who come together on a monthly basis to discuss parents’ interests, concerns, and to share important district information.

Who Can Attend PCAC Meetings?

Any parent/guardian of a Lansing School District student as well as community leaders and citizens of the Greater Lansing Area that recognize the need for parental and community involvement in our children’s education.

Why Attend PCAC?

You will have the opportunity to provide important input to leaders in the Lansing School District.

When & Where Does PCAC Meet?

The 2024-25 PCAC meetings will be held every fourth Wednesday of the month from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Dr. Halik Center, 4200 Wainwright Ave. Lansing, MI 48911.

Our next PCAC meeting will be October 23rd where will will discuss Special Populations.

Take advantage of Talkspace online therapy FREE. Click here to get started.

Is your family in a temporary or inadequate living situation due to a loss of housing? If so, the F.O.R.T. Program may be able to assist. The Families Overcoming Rough Times (F.O.R.T.) Program assists Lansing School District students who are living in temporary or inadequate living situations.

If you have been displaced from your home due to:

• A house fire, mold, or red tag
  
• Safety concerns
  
• Loss of utilities (heat or electric)
  
• Foreclosure
  
• Eviction
  
• Being asked to leave

F.O.R.T. can help with:

• Connections to housing programs
  
• School enrollment within 24 hours
  
• Transportation to and from school
  
• Personal hygiene & school supplies
  
• Clothing, shoes, coats, etc.
  
• Fees for school-sponsored field trips
  
• Cap and gown for graduation
  
• Financial aid application assistance, and MORE!

Please make sure to log in to your ParentVue account and update information if necessary.

• You can access your ParentVue account by clicking here and logging in.
• If you need assistance creating a ParentVue account, reach out to your child's school.
  
• If you are having issues accessing your ParentVue account, please email technology@lansingschools.net.

We are now using ParentSquare for stakeholder communication. ParentSquare automatically generates an account for each family, using the preferred email address and phone number listed in the family's ParentVue account.

If your family is not able to utilize ParentSquare, please email info@lansingschools.net.

October 18 — PD Day - No School

October 23 — (PCAC) Parent Community Advisory Council | 6:00 p.m. | 4200 Wainwright Ave.

October 24 — Regular Board Meeting | 6:00 p.m. | TBD

October 31 — Half Day - A.M. Elementary Only - Planning and Records

November 5 — Election Day - No School

November 7 — Regular Board Meeting | 6:00 p.m. | TBD

November 14 — Information Study Session | TBD

November 20 — (PCAC) Parent Community Advisory Council | 6:00 p.m. | 4200 Wainwright Ave.

November 21 — Regular Board Meeting | 6:00 p.m. | TBD

November 25-29 — Thanksgiving Break - No School

December 5 — Regular Board Meeting | 6:00 p.m. | TBD

December 12 — Information Study Session. | TBD

December 19 — Regular Board Meeting | 6:00 p.m. | TBD

December 23-27 & December 30 - January 3 — Winter Break - No School

January 9, 2025 – Annual Organizational Meeting | 519 W. Kalamazoo St.

Did you know that you can subscribe to our calendars?

Visit www.lansingschools.net/district/calendars, select the school(s) whose calendar you would like to subscribe to, and tap the tiny calendar at the top right. For more detailed instructions, click here.