With less than three months remaining in the 2025–2026 school year and many wonderful memories still to be made, I want to remind our entire community that even during difficult times, we must continue to move forward by staying focused within the TUPS Strategic Plan, remaining resilient no matter what we face, and being committed to success for all TUPS students.
As we enter budget season, our primary focus remains clear: ensuring that all resources are aligned with our core priorities, maintaining safe learning environments, supporting student achievement, and inspiring every child to dream and achieve BIG. This work reflects our mission to empower and inspire Every Student, Every Day, and reinforces that at TUPS, It’s All About U!
The development of the 2026–2027 school budget presents significant challenges that we, as a TUPS community, must work through together. As shared in our recent preliminary budget presentation, the district is addressing substantial fiscal pressures, including a $4.5 million increase in health benefits costs, rising tuition expenses, increased out-of-district transportation costs, contractual salary increases, and a loss of approximately $4 million in state funding over the past two years.
In previous years, the district was able to maintain a balanced budget within the standard 2% tax levy cap. However, due to the magnitude of the current budget shortfall and higher-than-expected expenses, the 2026–2027 budget will require difficult, thoughtful decisions to ensure the district's long-term stability while continuing to support our students, staff, and programs.
As part of this work, the district will finalize updated school boundary lines to balance enrollment within the new K–5 configuration, while making every effort to keep class sizes at 25 or fewer. Ongoing communication throughout this process will be essential to ensure that families impacted by these changes are informed, supported, and prepared.
Additionally, the Transportation Department is conducting a comprehensive review of all bus routes to ensure that TUPS remains fiscally responsible and efficient. Any changes to transportation will be finalized before the end of the current school year, and families will be notified in advance to allow adequate time to plan for the upcoming school year.
The district is also exploring the possibility of opening school buildings earlier in the morning to provide a safe, supervised environment for students. This consideration is intended to support families who may be impacted by potential transportation or scheduling adjustments in the 2026–2027 school year.
