Superintendent Newsletter
March 16, 2025

Update from Superintendent Shuldiner
Dear Lansing School District Community,
I hope that this newsletter finds you well. As always, it is a pleasure to email you all.
I can't believe Spring Break is next week (March 24 - 28). It seems like just yesterday we were starting the school year. I hope that all of you can take some time to rest and relax and spend some time with family and friends, as well as by yourself. Once we get back from the break, it is a sprint to the end of the year, a little more than two months before graduation. And in that time, there will be M-STEP tests, summative projects, final exams, and so much more. Some students will focus on getting their last credits to graduate, and others will do their best to pass all their 8th-grade classes so they can go to high school. Staff will be finishing up the semester, grading and cajoling, supporting and educating. Our parents will do their best to help their children complete all the work and pass all the tests.
The good news is that we now have systems and structures in place that we didn't have before: Saturday school, Ebersole weekends, tutoring, mentoring, and a myriad of other programs. What we need now is to grow and strengthen these programs. If any teacher is interested in tutoring after school or on Saturdays, please let me or your principal know. Please let me know if any community member wants to be a mentor. If any district staff member wants to help with after-school programs, please let me know. For us to really move the needle, we will need to do more than our regularly scheduled programming. I know so many of you already go above and beyond. And we, as a district, are trying to codify it in a way that becomes not just successful but embedded in our system for years to come. We are really close to dramatic positive academic change. We have about two months to do all we can for this year.
We also need to plan for next school year. With that being said, if you know people who want to work for the district in any capacity, please introduce them to our HR department. I would love to go into next year as fully staffed as possible. I would like to be able to spend this summer planning and building rather than scrambling and triaging. Our HR department is really strong and able to bring people into the district quicker and more efficiently than in past years. We are here to make it easier for you to help us. I am very proud of what we have all accomplished these last few years, but the best is still to come.
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
Board of Education Meeting — March 13
Post Oak is ALL IN for Reading Month!
It may only be week two of National Reading Month, but Post Oak is rolling out all the stops to make it one of the best reading months ever! Already, students at the school have been read to by Lansing Mayor Andy Schor, The Honorable Cynthia Ward, State Senator Sarah Anthony, and the Lansing School District's Deputy Superintendent of Schools, Mrs. Jessica Benavides, who presented her new children's book to the school's kindergarten class. As an added bonus, students received a visit from alumni Mickey Auston (Ourspace), as well as current Eastern High School Students!
That's not all, though! Professional basketball player Jon Horford; Ozay Moore, James Gardin, and Tabor Vits from All of the Above Hip Hop Academy; Ann Emmerich and Nichole Bachman from our local news stations; LPD officers Brown and Rocky; Dr. Sudan, Shakayla Zoss (Lansing Marketing Director), Cristian Labaren-Danches from MSU Community Engagement, and Lauren Singleton from Ready Set Aspire all took a turn reading to a Post Oak class.
Thank you so much to our amazing guest readers who have visited as part of our ongoing March is reading month celebrations! A huge thanks to our firefighters and parents as well—we couldn't do it without you all.
Season Begins For Lansing School District Robotics Teams
Lansing School District High School First Robotics Teams, EV Robotics, Jaybots, and Quake kicked off the 2025 competitive season at Battle Creek this month! Students showed grit, perseverance, and ingenuity while competing with 37 other teams from across the state of Michigan.
Eastern Quake Team 9203 is happy to welcome back three Eastern graduates, Evan White, Lana Ahmed, and Alena Abrego, as mentors. This mentorship has created an opportunity for students to remain connected to the district in meaningful ways.
Student team members had the following statements about the impact First Robotics and being a part of a team has had on them:
"The thing that I enjoyed most was building and coding the robot, testing it, finding a problem or something to improve on, then fixing or improving that thing." Leo Savoie, Team Member
"I enjoyed our first robotics competition for a few reasons. I really liked getting to work with the other teams, win or lose. It was truly an experience to be able to work with everyone. I really did appreciate everyone being so patient with our technical issues as well." Isabelle White, Team Member
"I enjoyed seeing our robot help out the other teams. It was quite fun when some teams struggled even though everybody was kind and respectful." Damien Dlugoss, Team Member
"I highly enjoyed our First Robotics 2025 kick-off competition for many reasons, but one of the main reasons being how welcoming and supportive the robotics community is. Other teams and volunteers were more than happy to help our team throughout the weekend, which greatly impacted our experience." Alena Abrego, Team Mentor.
What is FIRST Robotics?
"Founded in 1989 by inventor Dean Kamen, FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is a global nonprofit (501(c)(3)) organization that prepares young people for the future through a suite of inclusive, team-based robotics programs for ages 4-18 (PreK-12). Our programs are suitable for schools or structured afterschool activities and receive support from a vast network of volunteers, educators, and sponsor/donors, including over 200 Fortune 500 companies.
Because our programs are More Than Robots®, FIRST participants are guided by a signature set of Core Values to conduct research, fundraise, design, build, and showcase their achievements. Our thrilling, sports-like challenges build their self-confidence and collaborative problem-solving skills and have a proven and lasting impact on STEM learning and interest. Our participants and alumni gain access to education and career discovery opportunities, connections to exclusive scholarships and employers, and a place in the FIRST community for life.
The FIRST Core Values are fundamental to FIRST and unique to its programs. They emphasize friendly sportsmanship, respect for the contributions of others, teamwork, learning, and community involvement and are part of our commitment to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of unity.
As we work as a community to prepare young people for a STEM future, FIRST aims to ensure its programs are having a lasting, positive impact on participants across all demographic groups. Our rigorous multi-year longitudinal study, conducted by Brandeis University Center for Youth and Communities, provides strong evidence that participation in FIRST does just that. Even with just one year of FIRST participation, study participants are 2-3xs more likely to have gains in STEM outcomes than a comparison group of peers not participating in FIRST." (https://www.firstinspires.org/about)
FREE After School Running Program for Ages 8 - 12
WILX Features Lansing Technical High School
WILX Interviews Current Students From Each Lansing Tech Pathway!
Check out the video below to see what our current students have to say
about their respective programs at Lansing Technical High School.
Ingham County Youth Center (ICYC) Hosts Career Fair
The Ingham County Youth Center (ICYC) recently hosted a Career Fair, providing students with an opportunity to explore potential career paths and gain insight into various industries. The event gave students an opportunity to learn how to build professional relationships and make connections that are needed to build a positive future, helping them develop skills and confidence for life. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Junior Achievement and the industries and professionals who took the time to share their expertise and guidance, inspiring these young individuals to envision brighter possibilities for their futures.
Wieland Construction
Wise Man Tree Services
Consolidated Electrical Contractors
Lyle's Collision
Frank's Paints
LSD CTE
LSD Counselors
Founder & CEO of Voices of Color, Tanesha Ash-Shakoor, J.D.
Mikey 23 Foundation
Christman Co.
Special thanks to the LSD ICYC staff for working to make this happen: Meko Moore, Deanna Cambridge, Jerilyn Williams, Sheretha Carter and Anthony Covington
Summer Sessions at the Equine Learning Center
Opportunity for Science Enthusiasts of ALL Ages!
Michigan State University is holding a month long science festival this April! There are over 200 FREE community events for all ages. Scan the QR code to learn more.
Artists and Authors — Enter Now for a Chance to WIN!
Sister Cities International is proud to present the 2025 Young Artists and Authors Showcase, inviting youth from around the world to express their creativity through the theme “Friendship: The Heartbeat of Global Peace.” This year’s theme highlights the power of friendship to foster understanding, collaboration, and peace across borders.
By participating in this inspiring competition, young creators will have the opportunity to share their vision of a peaceful world and contribute to the international dialogue about the importance of building friendships across nations. Winning entries will be featured in Sister Cities International’s global network, inspiring communities and leaders worldwide.
This year, there will be two separate competitions based on age groups. Applicants aged 12-14 will compete in one showcase, while those aged 15-18 will compete in another. Each group has the opportunity to submit classic art (think drawings and paintings), digital art, photography, essay, poetry, and even MUSIC! Awards will be given out to YAAS winners who place 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in each category and in each age showcase.
1st Place: $1,000
2nd Place: $500
3rd Place: $250
Learn more and get your entry submitted as soon as possible — the deadline for this is April 1st!
Attention SENIORS!
The Lansing School District has gathered critical graduation information and links for families to plan a successful senior year and graduation day. The resource web page is being updated with new information as it becomes available, please bookmark the page and check often.
Scholarships
Seniors should apply as soon as possible and check with their
guidance counselors for additional funding opportunities.
Scholarships for Students with Disabilities
Track Your Child's School Bus - Here Comes the Bus!
School bus tracking and safety app for parents.
App Features
- Track the real-time location of your child’s bus
- Reduce wait times: get notified when the bus is near or the schedule has changed
- Know when your child arrives at school or home
Instructions For Parents and Guardians
- Download Here Comes the Bus app or visit herecomesthebus.com
- Click the “Sign Up” button
- Enter school district code 29845 and click “Next” followed by “Confirm”
- Complete the “User Profile” box
- Under “My Students,” click “Add.” Enter your child’s last name and student ID number. You must add “LSD_” to the beginning of your student’s ID during initial sign up. For example, if your student’s ID is 12345, you should enter LSD_12345 into the app.
- Click to confirm you are registering for your school district
- Complete the registration by clicking “Activate My Account” in the verification email
What is Here Comes the Bus and why might you need it?
Here Comes the Bus is an easy-to-use website and app that enables you to see the location of your student’s school bus on a smartphone, tablet, or personal computer. You know when the bus is near your stop or has arrived at the school.
How does it work?
Here Comes the Bus uses global positioning system (GPS) technology to locate and track a student’s school bus. It is powered by software from CalAmp. The location of the school bus can be seen on a smartphone, tablet, or personal computer.
How do you sign up?
Access to the application requires a district-specific code (29845), the student’s last name, and student ID*. Only students enrolled in transportation are available in the app.
*You must add “LSD_” to the beginning of your student’s ID during initial sign up. For example, if your student’s ID is 12345, you should enter LSD_12345 into the app.
Is the information private and secure?
Here Comes the Bus uses HTTPS, just like a bank or online store, which means that all communications between your web browser and the site are encrypted and secure.
How much does it cost?
Here Comes the Bus is available at no cost to families and participation is optional.
What is the difference between the app and website to track your student’s school bus?
The main difference is how you access the data. The look and feel are different on the mobile device for on-the-go use. You can use mobile and tablet apps anywhere you can use a mobile device.
What is the Buspass icon in the app and how do I use it?
“Buspass” is an additional service provided by CalAmp; for our families, "Buspass" will be an inactive icon in the app.
Will my student’s Access 411 One Card scans appear in Here Comes The Bus?
Unfortunately, your student’s card scans will not appear in the Here Come The Bus application. Here Comes The Bus is intended to provide school bus tracking only.
What should parents do if they have questions or problems using the app?
The Transportation Department and Transportation Technology Support teams will be happy to answer questions and resolve any issues. Please contact the Transportation Technology Support team at (517) 319-8360 and follow the prompts for Here Comes the Bus support.
Capital Area District Libraries Spring Schedules — Fun For the Whole Family
Looking for fun, practical, and inexpensive things to do in the Lansing area? Check out what Capital Area District Libraries (CADL) can offer! With classes and groups for children, families, teens, and adults, there is something for the whole family at CADL.
Join Parent University Wednesday at the Halik Center!
Your Voice Matters — Join PCAC
Learn More About the Lansing School District
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.
Any parent/guardian of a Lansing School District student as well as community leaders and citizens of the Greater Lansing Area are welcome to attend in person or online.
Our next PCAC meeting scheduled for March 19th will focus on spring testing.
A Zoom link to join the meeting will be sent to our families and community on March 19th.
Important District-Wide Dates
March 19 — Parent University | Encouraging Positive Behavior | 6:00 p.m.| 4200 Wainwright Ave.
March 19 — PCAC | Spring Testing | 6:00 p.m.| 4200 Wainwright Ave.
March 20 — Board Meeting | 6:00 p.m. | 519 Kalamazoo St.
March 21 — No School
March 24 - 28 — No School (Spring Break)
April 3 — Board of Education Meeting | 6:00 p.m. | 519 Kalamazoo St.
April 10 — Half Day (HS for testing)
April 17 — Board of Education Meeting | 6:00 p.m. | 519 Kalamazoo St.
April 23 — Parent University | Positive Discipline Techniques | 6:00 p.m.| 4200 Wainwright Ave.
April 23 — PCAC | Topic TBD | 6:00 p.m.| 4200 Wainwright Ave.
April 25 — No School
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.

