February 2026 Update

Springfield Public Schools is seeking applicants to fill the recently vacated Position 2 seat on the Springfield Public Schools Board of Directors.

Learn more about the Position 2 vacancy.

• Applicants must have lived within SPS boundaries for a year prior to appointment.
• Applicants must be registered to vote.
• Board members cannot be district employees.
• Board members are not compensated for their time or service.

Anyone interested in the Position 2 seat can apply in several ways:

• Complete and submit the online application form
• Printed applications are available at the District office at 640 A Street

The deadline to apply is 12 p.m. on February 27, 2026.

The successful candidate will fill the Position 2 seat until June 30, 2027.

At the February 12 Budget Committee Work Session, District leadership reviewed current-year financial conditions and provided an initial outlook for the 2026-27 budget cycle. The discussion focused on maintaining academic progress while addressing financial challenges.

Preliminary projections for 2026-27 show a $6.19 million decrease in total revenue and a $4.2 million increase in expenditures, resulting in a projected $10.4 million deficit.

The District recognizes these discussions directly impact our staff and schools, and we remain committed to transparency and collaboration throughout the budget development process.

The Budget Committee will reconvene on March 12 to review legislative updates, finalized enrollment projections, updated revenue forecasts, and 2026-27 budget parameters.

The February 2026 We Are SPS newsletter was originally published on February 2, 2026. Read on for February's news and updates, including inclement weather communication procedures.

During the January 12 Business Meeting, several items went before the Board of Directors for vote/discussion:

• Approved a resolution to reduce licensed staffing by $2.34 million.
• Approved the annual comprehensive financial report.
  
• Approved the newest member of the Budget Committee, Patty Gutierrez, who will represent the District’s Educational Equity Advisory Committee.
• Discussed Lane Education Service District's (ESD) Local Service Plan, which is designed to outline the range of services and programs offered to support SPS needs.

The Springfield Public Schools Board of Education is scheduled to hold two public meetings in February:

• Monday, February 9, 7 p.m. (Business Meeting)
• Monday, February 23, 5:30 p.m. (Special Meeting)

The public is invited to attend in person, and Spanish interpretation is available for those attending in person. School board meetings are held at the District Administrative Office, 640 A Street. School board meetings are streamed and recordings are available on demand on the District Vimeo channel.

More information, including Board policies and meeting agendas can be found on the Springfield Board of Education webpage.

The Budget Committee will hold its second Work Session of the year on Thursday, February 12, at 6 p.m. The Finance Team is expected to preview an expected budget gap for the 2026-27 school year.

All Budget Committee work sessions and meetings are held at the District Administrative Office, 640 A Street. Budget committee meetings are streamed and recordings are available on demand on the District Vimeo Channel. More information, including available agenda and materials, will be posted on the District Budget Committee webpage.

Looking for things to do and opportunities to show up to support students? Keep scrolling to the "On the Calendar in February" section.

No School All Students

• Monday, February 16: Presidents Day Holiday

Early Release All Students:

• Friday, February 13 *
• Friday, February 27 *

*Does not apply to A3 Academy of Arts & Academics, which has its own calendar.

Springfield Public Schools (SPS) and the Springfield Education Association (SEA) reached a tentative agreement on a successor bargaining contract following a mediated bargaining session on January 23, 2026. The agreement reflects the District’s commitment to student learning, instructional quality, and long-term financial stability.

The two sides met about a dozen times over the course of a year to negotiate a successor contract. The tentative agreement will be presented to SEA membership and the Springfield Public Schools Board of Directors for ratification.

According to data released by the Oregon Department of Education (ODE), a record-high 76.9 percent of Springfield students in the Class of 2025 graduated on time, a nearly three percent gain over 2024. This achievement marks a significant milestone after 15 years of steady gains.

Springfield High School and Thurston High School both increased their graduation rates, and The Academy of Arts and Academics (A3) once again achieved a 100 percent graduation rate.

Read more and dive into the data in the SPS Newsroom ⬇️

The new SPS Connect mobile app is available now, designed with parents and staff in mind. Stay informed and up-to-date with personalized news, events, and resources. Download SPS Connect in the App Store or on Google Play to get lunch menus, the academic calendar, and more - right at your fingertips!

App Store | Google Play

This school year, SPS will convene the Indian Parent Committee as a Title VI grant program advisory committee. Through this committee, native parents, native students, and native tribal/ community members can provide feedback and guidance to District leaders on improving outcomes and providing opportunities for Native youth in the Springfield School District.

Meetings of the Indian Parent Committee are anticipated to take place every other month at minimum. Learn more and apply ⬇️

Flu season is upon us and we have had a growing number of students out sick from school. While attendance matters, our biggest concern is that students are safe and healthy while at school.

Please keep students home if they have these symptoms:

• Fever greater than 100.0 F

• Vomiting

• Diarrhea

• Stiff neck or headache with fever

• Any rash with or without fever

• Unusual behavior changes, such as irritability, lethargy

• Jaundice (yellow color of skin or eyes)

• Skin lesions that are “weepy” (fluid or pus-filled)

• Colored drainage from the eyes

• Brown/green drainage from the nose with fever

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath; serious, sustained cough

Students should stay home:

• Until they have been fever-free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medicine.
• For 24 hours after their last episode of vomiting or diarrhea.

Teach kids the basics of staying healthy:

• Wash hands regularly
• Get adequate sleep
• Cover coughs and sneezes
• Avoid touching your face

Read more and download a printable guide on our When to Keep Your Student Home webpage.

Students must have their school required vaccines by Exclusion Day, February 25, 2026. After that day, students who are not current on the required vaccines, or do not have an exemption on file, will not be able to attend school until their vaccine record becomes complete.

The Springfield Schools Health Center (SSHC) can help families get caught up on immunizations. The clinic is open to all Springfield Public Schools students and conveniently located on the Springfield High School campus. Students without insurance that covers vaccines can get immunized for free. SSHC bills insurance and Medicare, Medicaid and OHP.

February Immunization Clinics:

• Wednesday, February 11: 8:15 - 10:45 a.m.
• Wednesday, February 25: 8:15 a.m. - 4 p.m.

• Call 541-682-3550 for an appointment
• Springfield Schools Health Center, 1050 10th Street
• Spanish interpretation available
• Please bring any immunization records you have for your student and the student's insurance information, if they have insurance.
• All students are welcome, regardless of insurance status.

The potential for school delays or closures due to snow and ice remains a reality in February. If your contact information has changed, now is a great time to get that updated with your school. SPS announces delays and closures in several different ways. Our goal is to determine by 6:30 a.m. whether school will be delayed, closed or open as usual. Remember, no news means no change. You can ensure that you will receive announcements of delays and closures in several key ways:

1. Make sure that your contact information is up to date with your student's school.
2. Follow SPS on Facebook, Instagram and X.
   
3. Sign up to receive FlashAlert alerts.
4. Check our website.

In January, The Chronicle featured SPS' Dual Immersion program, talking with students, teachers and Guy Lee Elementary Assistant Principal and Dual Language Coordinator Armando Garcia.

➡️ Read: SPEAKING TWICE AS NICE: Springfield Program Has Far-Reaching Impact by Ron Hartman

The program continues to grow each year, with last year's class seeing record enrollment. Applications for 2026-27 incoming kindergarten, first, sixth and ninth graders are open now! Both native English and Spanish speakers are encouraged to apply.

Click the button to learn more about Dual Immersion and apply. ⬇️

Attendance matters—not just for learning, but for staying connected. The "85 to Thrive" attendance campaign at Springfield High School is in full effect, requiring students to have 85% or higher attendance to attend events such as January's Winter Formal.

Students had a great time, and nearly all stayed until the very end. SHS staff are encouraged to see that students are understanding that being in school isn’t just about eligibility to attend events—it’s about connecting to learning and showing up for themselves and for others. "85 to Thrive" is just getting started, with Positive Behavior Intervention Systems (PBIS) work expected to launch in the coming months. These efforts will continue to incentivize students to show up, stay engaged, and invest in their education.

It doesn't matter where you start - just keep showing up!

Good attendance habits in school set students up for a bright and successful future in the workplace. Attendance matters - every day!

We're on your student's attendance team. Reach out to your school and learn more on our website:

• Simple ways to support your student's attendance.
• When to keep students home with illness.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day events and activities invited students of all grades to find opportunities to be of service at home, at school and in the community.

The deadline to register for 4th grade boys basketball is Wednesday, Feb. 25. Each school needs enough players for a team to join the league! See the full 2026 schedule and scholarship information here.

The deadline to register for 7/8th grade boys basketball is Wednesday, Feb. 25. Each middle school needs enough players for a team to join the league! See the full 2026 schedule and scholarship information here.

• The Student Art Contest is broken into two divisions: grades 6-8 and grades 9-12. Each division will award a first, second, and third place winner.
• First place winners will receive a $150 gift card, second place will receive a $100 gift card, and third place will receive a $50 gift card.
• First, second, and third place winners will also have their artwork featured on the outside of an LTD bus! Honorable mentions may have their artwork displayed on the inside of the bus, on LTD.org, and at select LTD locations.
• Submit artwork by February 27 to your school's office or deliver in person to LTD.

See complete entry guidelines and download an entry form on LTD's website by clicking the button ⬇️

Did you know that all K-12 students in Lane County are eligible to ride LTD busses for free with the LTD Student Transit Pass? Just contact your school's office to get your student's free pass.

• SHS Performing Arts presents: "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat"
• Springfield High School Auditorium, 875 7th St.
• 7 p.m. - Doors open at 6:30
• General Admission, cash or check only: $11 adults, $7 students and senior citizens
• Reservations: 541-744-4774

• Thurston High School Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
• Thurston High School cafeteria, 333 58th St.
• 5:30 p.m.
• Admission: $50, purchase tickets here

• For event details, nomination information, or donation inquiries, please contact the Hall of Fame Committee at: thurstonhighschoolhalloffame@gmail.com

Now in its 10th year, the Hall of Fame continues its tradition of honoring outstanding individuals, teams, and coaches whose achievements have elevated and inspired the Thurston High School community. The evening includes a reception, dinner, and formal induction program recognizing the newest members of the Hall of Fame. Community members, alumni, and supporters are warmly invited to celebrate the achievements of these exceptional Colts.

SPS has made it easier to report instances of harassment, intimidation, bullying, cyberbullying and teen dating violence online.

At the top of every school web page, you’ll find a link titled “Safety Concern.” This directs users to two options to report being unsafe at school.

And as always, you can share a concerning incident with a trusted adult by messaging them or talking face to face.

The SPS equity statement reflects the District's mission of serving every student, every day.

The statement stands as an affirmation of the District’s commitment to equity, inclusion and belonging and will guide our continued efforts to support the vision of SPS as a place where students want to learn and staff want to work.

Springfield Public Schools board meetings are available for anyone to watch live or on-demand on the district's Vimeo channel. View the calendar of upcoming board meetings. A Spanish interpreter is also available during in-person board meetings.

In accordance with public meeting law and Oregon HB 2560, the school board will be providing remote access through live streamed meetings to our community.