Superintendent reports hiring stability, outlines Curtis High School phased rebuild plan

The superintendent reported to the University Place School District board that hiring has stabilized and the district is moving ahead with planning for a phased rebuild of Curtis High School.

“We currently have … four open certificated positions in the district,” the superintendent said, noting that figure is substantially below the typical 30–40 certificated hires the district sees in a normal year. The superintendent added officials expect to hire a smaller cohort this season and described the staffing picture as “a lot of stability going into next year.”

The superintendent said the district received 10 architect applications for the Curtis High School project, narrowed that pool to four finalists and scheduled interviews the following day. He said several staff will travel to Beaverton, Oregon, to observe a similar phased construction project while school is in session. “We anticipate that construction of the high school will begin in 2028 and completion by 2032,” he said.

Board members asked about safety and mitigation during phased construction; the superintendent said the district and its construction consultant are studying approaches and will report back at future meetings. He also noted that the state auditor’s office is conducting an audit; directors Nobles and Pelican participated in the entrance conference and the superintendent said the board will be updated when the exit conference is scheduled.

The board did not take action on the project at the meeting; the superintendent indicated the next formal steps will include selecting an architect and providing more detailed timelines and mitigation plans to the board.