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.
In less than two days, the polls will open for the most important election in years. Not only will voters be able to cast their ballot for our next President, but they also can have their voice count in an open seat in the US Senate and the US House of Representatives. Rarely do we have any election with no incumbents. This year, all three of the most important positions will be non-current holders of the position. In addition to our federal elections, registered voters can select candidates in a series of state elections. And perhaps the vote with the most direct impact on the school district will also be on Tuesday. There are four school board seats up this year. Thus, if you live in the Lansing School District boundary and are eligible to vote, you will have the chance to pick my bosses and help shape the direction of the district.
As the Superintendent, it is certainly not my place to advocate for whom you should vote. That is a sacrosanct activity for you to decide on, and I respect that. Your voice via your ballot is incredibly important, but it is your vote and no one else's.
However, I can and should urge you all to vote, if you can, to be a part of the democratic process. We have spent these last few years building all sorts of ways to allow your voice to be heard. We have a Family-Superintendent Roundtable. We have a Student-Superintendent Roundtable. We have our newsletters, emails, and text messages. We have parent-teacher conferences and PTOs (Parent-Teacher Organizations.) We have an Instructional Council and a Professional Council. We have union meetings and School Improvement Teams. We believe strongly in positioning the voice of our students, families, and staff at the forefront of our support and decision-making process.
But nothing can compare to the awesome power of picking our next President, our next Senator, and our next Congressperson. If you are a registered voter, you will also get to vote for State Representative, State Schoolboard members, local school board members, and so many other positions. If you need anything to help you vote, please don't hesitate to reach out to the Board of Elections. They are here to support you.
Regardless of who you want to win, I hope that you all have the chance to vote in this historic election.
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
