Superintendent Update - March 2026

Dear UPSD Parents: 

I hope this message finds you well. Thank you for your patience today during our first ever "Friday-the-13th" snowstorm in the month of March. 

Here are several important updates for your review:

Today's Weather Event
Today was very unusual. Our team was on the road by 4 AM and things looked fine until about 6:15 AM when the snowflakes got more serious.  Regionally, it was a mixed bag with a combination of snow and rain and no real clarity on what would happen next in U.P. Snow events that start after 6:00 AM are very challenging because the process of starting the school day has already begun and many staff, students and families are already arriving at school. Parents should know that if you don't hear from us by 6:00 AM, school will operate on a normal schedule.  If any parent believes that their student won't make it to school safely, they should feel confident to keep their student at home and excuse the absence.  We encourage each family to make the decision that is best for them on unusual days like today.

UPSD Receives State Superintendent's Award for Educational Excellence!!
It was announced last week that the University Place School District was named as a top performing district in Washington State and was selected to receive a 2026 State Superintendent's Award for Educational Excellence. Only 25 school districts in the state received the award (out of 295). This award, like others we have received over the last decade, recognizes the academic success of our students across multiple measures. This success is made possible by our incredibly supportive community and a "top-notch" team of professional educators who are committed to public education and to the University Place community. More information can be found on the OSPI website.

Final Election Results Are In!  They Look Great
While we are on the topic of incredible community support, the results of the February 10th Special Election are now official.  All three UPSD measures passed by strong margins with voters supporting Prop #1 at 72%, Prop #2 at 69% and Prop #3 at 73%. Props #1 and #3 maintain essential, local funding through 2030 and will require renewal in 2030. Prop #2 will allow us to build three new schools to serve UPSD students and families far into the future!

This is a truly spectacular outcome- an outcome that reflects our community's long-standing commitment to public education. I know I speak for everyone on the UPSD team when I express my profound gratitude to our generous and caring citizens for their ongoing support.

What's Next for the School Construction Bond Projects?
Work on the bond projects has already begun. We are currently in the process of selecting an architect for the Curtis High School project.  We plan on making this selection by early May.  After that, staff, community, and students will have opportunities to give input into the design of our new high school.  That is really fun and exciting!!

We will share information about the status of our bond projects using a variety of methods, including email updates like this, the Dialog newsletter, a designated page on our website (coming soon!) and on social media. These communications are in production and will continue through 2032 when all of the projects are scheduled for completion.

Parent Survey Results Help Us Improve
Be on the lookout for a parent survey in April.  This year's survey will include some of the same questions we asked last year, with additional questions and modifications based on parent feedback and district needs.  We value your opinion and encourage you to complete the survey for each school where you have a student attending.  Also, if you are the parent of a student receiving special services in the district, please respond to the OSPI survey that was sent to you in ParentSquare on Monday, March 9th.  (Note:  The OSPI survey is only for parents of students with Individualized Education Plans or "IEPs".  The upcoming district survey is for all parents.)

Thank you for making it to the bottom of another long Superintendent email.  As always, please feel free to contact me directly at jchamberlin@upsd83.org or by phone at 253-566-5600 with questions, concerns or suggestions.

Best regards,

Jeff Chamberlin
Superintendent