The district superintendent told the University Place School District Board on Tuesday that September enrollment exceeded the district's budget projection and that the district plans to ask voters next February to renew its Educational Programs and Operations (EP&O) levy.

"Today is the tenth day of the 2025–26 school year, and so we are underway," the Superintendent said, opening a report that combined enrollment, extracurricular activity, and levy planning updates.

The superintendent reported a September full‑time equivalent (FTE) enrollment of 5,381 and an actual head count of 5,473, compared with a budgeted FTE of 5,255. "So, once again, we are significantly above our budget," the Superintendent said, adding that the district exceeded its projected enrollment at nearly every grade level except kindergarten.

The superintendent said higher enrollment generally eases short‑term budget pressures but can create operational challenges if it is substantially larger than projections. The district's September FTE of 5,381 compares with 5,334 at the same time last year, the superintendent said.

The superintendent also outlined the district's plan to seek voter approval in February 2026 for a replacement EP&O levy that would continue the district's current tax rate for another four years. "That levy expires in 2026, which is coming up. And we will be asking our voters to renew that levy again in February 2026," the Superintendent said.

The speaker described the current timetable: a required pre‑ballot review submitted to the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) this week, a board resolution seeking permission to place the measure on the ballot (anticipated at the Oct. 8 regular meeting), and, if the board approves, placement on the February special election ballot.

"We will do that this week. We expect to hear back from OSPI in 7 to 10 days," the Superintendent said, describing the pre‑ballot approval step introduced in the state funding revisions. The superintendent stressed the levy is a replacement levy intended to continue the same tax rate rather than increase it.

No formal levy resolution was taken at the meeting; the superintendent said the board would see a resolution at its October meeting, after OSPI review.

Board members did not oppose the plan during the update. The meeting record shows routine consent and monitoring motions passed by voice vote earlier in the agenda but no formal action on the EP&O levy at this session.

The superintendent used the enrollment update also to note fall athletics participation and to frame the levy's role: "our entire athletics program, as you know, is funded by that EP&O levy, as are many other things."