View Comments LANSING — Lansing School District officially hired its next superintendent, ending a search that weathered the COVID-19 pandemic and spanned more than 18 months. The Board of Education voted unanimously Thursday night to approve a three-year contract paying $185,000 annually to Benjamin Shuldiner, an outside hire tasked with leading the district out of a historically challenging year. Shuldiner, 44, a dean’s fellow at Hunter College in New York City and a former high school principal, was picked over Jessica Benavides, a 23-year veteran of the district, on March 20. Benavides continues to work as the district's executive director of improvement and innovation.