Earlier this week, I had the privilege of addressing East Lansing’s fine educators during a teacher’s assembly. During my comments I shared that I am frequently asked about the importance of schools to the community - a question to which I respond in several ways. First, the health, success and future of our community and our schools are inextricably linked. Also, nowhere is the fabric of school and community woven more tightly than it is here in East Lansing. I am proud of the fact that our school system is renowned throughout the region and state for upholding a tradition of academic and athletic excellence. Please recall that East Lansing High School earned a silver medal designation, placing it amongst the top 500 public schools in the nation.

City/School District Partnership
In order to maintain our health and success we collaborate in a number of key ways. For example, the city provides snow-plowing and bus maintenance to the schools at a lower cost than other alternatives, enabling more resources to be dedicated to the classroom. The city also supports the district’s mission by providing before and after school care, organizing school sports and cooperating with the district on school safety programs just to name a few. We accomplish this through regular meetings between myself and Dr. Chapin, along with thrice-yearly joint City Council/School Board meetings.

My Family
For me and my wife Carol, the importance of the school system is about much more than the impact on our community. It’s about what the schools mean to my family and for the future of our children. Our two sons have thrived in East Lansing Schools. The diversity in the district and particularly in their classrooms has become the status quo for them - they can’t imagine a classroom any other way. In accordance with the school district’s mission statement, my children and all of those who attend East Lansing schools are not only taught the three R’s (and then some), they are also taught to be “World Citizens.” I couldn’t be more pleased and we will continue to support the teachers and administrators who do such a fine job educating our children.