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.
Well, we did it! The first day of school has come and gone. I am so proud of our district. This was, by far, the best opening day in my time here. The feedback we received was overwhelmingly positive, from having more teachers in more classrooms to cleaner, better-lit schools. More materials were in buildings, new playgrounds were unveiled at a myriad of schools. Everything from small touch-ups to completely renovated classrooms welcomed students throughout the district. In the first three days, I visited more than half our schools and found our wonderful educators actively engaging with our eager-to-learn pupils. I love the first few weeks of excitement.
One of the biggest accolades we received was how well the cell phone policy was going, especially in the high schools. I want to give a special shout out to all of our high school team – staff and students alike – for understanding the need for a change and for fully embracing it. As we start the school year, I would love for all of you to visit some of our schools. Reach out to your student's principal or the school you went to as a child and ask to schedule a tour. See the new fence, new basketball court, and colorful new siding at Riddle. Walk the new track at Gardner. Experience the new environmental playground at Forest View. This is not your old Lansing School District. Come and experience all of the positive changes occurring.
Of course, this first week was not without its hiccups. The Snail Bus was, in fact, very late. Some technology didn't work exactly as planned on the first day. Parking, pick-up, and drop-off were a bit harried. And as is typical, many students had to get their schedules adjusted. But all in all, the first three days felt different. There was both a calm and a focus that pervaded the district. A big thanks goes to our staff for embracing the new ELA curriculum and other pedagogical changes. A very warm appreciation goes to the families for preparing our students to learn on day one. And, of course, huge applause goes to our students, from Pre-K to 12th grade, who walked into school on Wednesday ready to take on the challenges of a new school year.
Over the course of the new week, I will finish visiting every school and talk with many teachers. If you see me in the hallway, please come up and say hi. I want to hear about your first week's experience: what went well, what didn't, and, of course, what more we can do to make Lansing even better than before. And if anyone wants to email me to tell me about their first week, please do so. The more I hear from you all, the better we can work together to make the Lansing School District the best district in the country.
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
