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District

Community Facility Advisory Committee

Community Facility Advisory Committee

Our school board is dedicated to fostering an environment where every student can achieve academic excellence and personal growth in a safe and supportive setting.

As elected representatives of our community, we are committed to making informed decisions that shape the future of our schools. Our responsibilities include:

  • Policy Development: Crafting and implementing policies that promote high educational standards and equity.
  • Budget Oversight: Ensuring that financial resources are allocated efficiently and effectively to support student learning and well-being.
  • Superintendent Supervision: Collaborating with and providing oversight for the Superintendent to ensure the district's strategic goals are met.
  • Curriculum and Instruction: Evaluating and approving curricula that meet the diverse needs of our students and prepare them for future success.
  • Facilities Management: Overseeing the maintenance and improvement of school facilities to provide a safe and conducive learning environment.
  • Community Engagement: Encouraging active participation from parents, students, teachers, and community members to foster a collaborative educational community.

Our mission is to support every student in reaching their full potential by prioritizing safety, equity, and excellence in all our decisions. We invite you to explore our initiatives, participate in our meetings, and join us in our dedication to student success and safety.

A University Place School District Community Facilities Advisory Committee (CFAC) was convened on December 3, 2024 as a Superintendent's Advisory Committee to provide feedback on future facility needs and planning for the district.  The work of the committee was finalized on May 13, 2025 with a series of findings and recommendations for future planning and action. 

CFAC Committee Work - Meetings, Research & Tours

The University Place School District Community Facility Advisory Committee met five times on December 3 (2024), January 14, February 11,  March 11 and May 13 (2025). Information was provided to the committee by district leadership, school construction experts and financial consultants. The committee focused on the needs of the oldest facilities in the district: Sunset Primary (1966), Chambers Primary (1971-72) and several separate buildings that comprise parts of Curtis High School (1969-78).  The committee met at each site and participated in guided tours and a facilitated discussion to assess building conditions. School principals at each site also provided information to the committee on the facilities ability to meet current and future educational, programmatic and safety needs of students.

The committee was also presented with substantial financial information on the current costs of school construction and anticipated inflationary pressures.  Tax rate information was provided to the committee with estimates for potential construction bond costs and the impact of these costs on local citizens.

Composition of the Committee

Nate Angelo

Bruce Bouyer

Stephanie Brown

Jennifer Dotson

Robin Edmon

Meredith Gamas

Gunnar Gehring

Hunter George

Kathleen George

Gary Gilchrist

Jodi Herchold

Bob Lucey

Brittany Mahugh

Kathryn Melin

Pablo Para

Jim Patterson

Renee Simms

Kayla Weyerhaeuser

Dave Zeeck

Supporting Administrators included

  • Jeff Chamberlin, Superintendent (former Principal at CJH)
  • Jeff Loupas, Deputy Superintendent
  • Alphonso Melton, Executive Director of Business Services
  • Eric Brubaker, Exec. Dir. of Human Resources (former Principal of CHS & NVI)
  • Lainey Mathews, Executive Director of Secondary Education
  • Willie Keith, Exec. Dir.of Primary Education (former Principal of UP Primary)
  • Jason Lowery, Director of Facilities
  • Tom Adams, Principal of Curtis High School
  • Principals and Assistants at Sunset and Chambers Primary (provided tours)

Supporting Consultants included

  • Construction Services Group (ESD 112)
  • Bassetti Architects
  • Financial Advisory Services (ESD 112)
  • OSPI- School Construction Assistance Program

Findings and Recommendations of the Committee

The Community Facilities Advisory Committee concluded work in May and provided a series of findings and made specific recommendations based upon those findings. These recommendations were shared with the University Place School District Board of Directors to inform board work prior to consideration of bond and levy resolutions in October, 2025.

 

  • Sunset Primary, Chambers Primary and Curtis High School Buildings 100, 200, 300, 400E and 500 are more than fifty years old and in need of significant repairs and upgrades.
  • Sunset Primary, Chambers Primary and Curtis High School Buildings 100, 200, 300, 400E and 500 no longer meet the educational and programmatic needs of UPSD students and staff. 
  • Sunset Primary, Chambers Primary and Curtis High School Buildings 100, 200, 300, 400E and 500 fall short of the community's expectations for high-quality learning environments. This is especially true in the following areas: special education, science, career and technical education
  • Curtis High School facilities present a range of problems for school safety, security and accessibility (i.e., elevation changes, too many exterior doors, etc.)
  • Substantial investment is necessary to renovate and/or replace each of these buildings.
  • In most cases, the benefits of replacing buildings far outweigh the modest savings in cost from renovation or remodeling. 
  • Construction costs have risen sharply over the last decade and continue to increase.  Waiting to address facility concerns will result in additional costs and, therefore, the need for higher taxes. 
  • For school districts the size of University Place, school construction bonds are the only method available for funding school replacement projects.
  • Current bond payments from 2006 (CJH, UPP, CHS Gym, CHS Pool) are decreasing and will end in 2027.  A new bond in 2026 would replace the previous bond and associated taxes to fund additional construction projects.
  • The district will be eligible for substantial additional state funding to support construction projects if voters approve a school construction bond.
  • Property values in University Place depend significantly on the quality of our schools. Keeping the physical space and educational infrastructure updated is critical to the ongoing success and reputation of the community.

Committee Recommendations to the Superintendent

  • Replace Sunset Primary school with a new building. 
  • Replace Chambers Primary school with a new building.
  • Replace Curtis High School buildings 200 and 300.  Renovate or replace Curtis High School buildings 100, 400E and 500.
  • Construction bond propositions should be sufficient to replace current facilities with buildings that will meet current and future needs of UPSD students for the next 50 years or longer.  These propositions should also take into account the impact of these investments on UP citizens and taxpayers.
  • School construction projects should focus on providing the most functional school facilities in a cost effective manner.
  • School construction projects should be expedited to minimize the impact of rising costs due to inflation and orchestrated to minimize the negative impact on students.
  • Substantial information must be provided to University Place residents to explain the need for school construction projects and the costs associated with these projects in advance of voting. 
  • Should a bond be approved by voters, the design and planning processes should give parents, citizens, staff and students multiple opportunities to provide input.

The district is grateful for the work of the Community Facility Advisory Committee.  The recommendations provided by this committee were the determining factors in developing the scope and focus for Proposition #2- Bonds to replace or renovate deteriorating schools and improve safety.