April 2026

Early Release All Students*

• Friday, April 10
• Friday, April 24

No School Middle and High School Only*

• Friday, April 17

On early release days, elementary students are released at 12:30 p.m.
Secondary students are released at 1:15 p.m.
Lunch is served as normal.
Bus riders will be dropped off at their bus stops 2 hours and 20 minutes earlier than their regular time.

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

Springfield Public Schools welcomes in the Class of 2039 at its May Kindergarten Welcome Nights!

Kids who turn five on or before September 1, 2026 are ready to start kindergarten in the 2026-27 school year!

At Kindergarten Welcome Night, you and your incoming kindergartener will:

• Tour the school.
• Meet teachers.
• Get registration help.
• Get ideas for preparing for kindergarten.
• Have fun!

We are so excited to get the Class of 2039 started on their school journey and can't wait to meet you!

Register and Review for the 2026-27 school year opens May 4. To prepare, visit our Enrollment page, start gathering any needed documents and log into ParentVUE. Have questions or can't remember your ParentVUE password? Contact your school's secretary for help!

Help us best prepare for next school year by completing your Register and Review before the end of the school year.

Applications for SPS' Dual Immersion program are now being accepted for students entering kindergarten, first, sixth and ninth grades in the 2026-27 school year. SPS Dual Immersion has continued to grow each year, with record enrollment last year!

Enrolling in the Dual Immersion program is beneficial for both native English and Spanish speakers!

Learn more and download the application on our Dual Immersion page.

Registration for Willamalane's summer programs, including summer camps and swim lessons, opens on Wednesday, April 15 at 8 a.m. Mark your calendar and browse upcoming programs here.

Colt Night is open to all current and future Thurston High School students and their families! Discover the talents, skills, and academic excellence of THS students as classes, clubs, sports, and activities unite to showcase the very BEST of THS.

• Thursday, April 23

• 6 - 8 p.m.

• Thurston High School, 333 58th St.

2026 SPARK camp availability will depend on state funding decisions, expected in mid-April. Registration is open now for two confirmed SPARK sites. We plan to expand summer learning if funding is approved.

We understand families are planning ahead, and also want to plan appropriately.

If additional sites are funded, we’ll notify families immediately and open registration as soon as possible.

Registration for SPARK is open now for students who attend these schools:

• Guy Lee Elementary and Two Rivers-Dos Rios Elementary (held at Maple Elementary)

• Hamlin Middle School

Willamalane After-SPARK Care

Willamalane will offer optional after-SPARK extended care at elementary sites from 3-6 p.m. Like the school year Kids Club, kids will enjoy games, art and more in a safe and fun environment. Families can register for after-SPARK care on Willamalane’s website for $210 for all 16 days of SPARK camp. Willamalane’s summer registration opens April 15 at 8 a.m.

If state funding allows for additional sites, Willamalane is expected to offer after-SPARK care at those locations as well.

K-8th graders can join track and field programs after school. K-3rd graders learn the basics in skills clinics, and 4th-8th graders can join their school's team to compete in meets against other schools. Sign up here.

For several years, Springfield Public Schools purchased 1Passes, and all students could participate in a lottery to receive these district-paid passes. This year, school district funds are limited, and there will not be a lottery. However, SPS was able to purchase a limited number of 1Passes from Willamalane to distribute to eligible SPS families. Stay tuned for more information.

The Board of Directors met several times during March

• March 2, 2026 - Special Meeting
• Took action on complaints discussed in Executive Session.
• March 9, 2026 - Special Meeting
• Interviewed 11 candidates for Position 2 vacancy.
• March 9, 2026 - Business Meeting
• Selected Bob Brew for Position 2 vacancy.
• Staff presented the 2026-27 academic calendar which was rolled over from the 2025-26 academic calendar, meaning no significant changes for the community. The Board could approve the schedule at the April Business Meeting.
• Discussed next steps for the interim superintendent process, including issuing a request for proposals (RFP) to hire a search firm to help identify and vet candidates.

The Board's next scheduled meetings is the April 13 Business Meeting.

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

• Monday, April 13, 7 p.m. (Business Meeting)
• Monday, April 27, 5:30 p.m. (Special Meeting)

The Board may schedule additional meetings as needed. Notification of additional meetings will be made on the District's website.

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 met on March 12 for a Work Session. Senator Floyd Prozanski and Representative John Lively provided updates from the state Capitol and recent Short Session.

District staff shared an updated financial outlook for the 2026–27 school year. Earlier projections showed a $10.4 million budget shortfall, driven primarily by declining enrollment and rising staff costs. Since that projection was first shared, the district implemented a hiring and spending freeze to slow expenditures and preserve resources. As a result of those measures, the projected deficit has been reduced to approximately $7.9 million.

The Budget Committee will meet for its first Budget Committee Meeting of the year on May 7 at 6 p.m. and are expected to hear Acting Superintendent Jodi O'Mara's proposed 2026-27 Operating Budget.

All Budget Committee work sessions and meetings are held at the District Administrative Office, 640 A Street. Budget committee work sessions and 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.

Springfield Public Schools is excited to welcome Bob Brew to fill the vacated Position 2 seat on the Board of Directors.

Brew brings more than 35 years of experience in finance and management to the position. In his application, Brew said he was focused on restoring public trust in the district and encouraging positive communication with the community and school workers. He will serve on the Board until June 30, 2027.

Springfield Public Schools Acting Superintendent Jodi O’Mara is inviting families and community members to join her for a series of informal Coffee and Conversation gatherings around town.

The next Coffee and Conversation will take place:

• Wednesday, April 8

• 7:30–9:30 a.m.

• The Washburne East (5807 A St. near Thurston High School)

These no-host events are designed to create a welcoming space for parents, guardians, and community members to share their perspectives, ask questions, and talk about what they want from their local school district. O’Mara said listening to the community is an important part of her work as Acting Superintendent.

Community members are welcome to stop by at any time during the event to share their thoughts and connect with O’Mara.

Youth Transition Coordinator Garrett Davidson was recognized with the 2026 Innovative Agency Provider Award during the Oregon Statewide Transition Conference (OSTC) in March. Davidson was recognized for his efforts to recruit students and business partners to expand opportunities for meaningful work experiences.

"Every student comes to me with a different skill set, and it is my job to foster their strengths and develop their self-confidence. My hope is to give them the skills necessary to be the best worker and most importantly person they can be," said Davidson of his award.

Read more in the SPS Newsroom ⬇️

Springfield Public Schools student-athletes delivered an outstanding winter season, marked by historic achievements, state titles, and unforgettable moments of teamwork and school pride. From the pool to the mat to the court and the sidelines, our students represented their schools and community at the highest level. Congratulations to all of our athletes, coaches, and supporters on an exceptional season.

Read more in the SPS Newsroom ⬇️

Congresswoman Val Hoyle’s office is hosting the 2026 Annual Congressional Art Competition. The competition is open to all high school students and the winning artwork will be hung in the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. Winners will receive two plane tickets to travel to D.C. and attend a reception in their honor. Deadline to submit artwork in April 20! Learn more by clicking the button below.

Willamalane is hiring for a variety of part-time positions this summer, including lifeguards and camp activity leaders. Candidates must be at least 15 years old. Learn more here.

You don't need anyone to sell you on wanting a good life. You already want it. But here's the part that doesn't get talked about enough: that high school diploma is the key that unlocks most of those doors.

Every day you miss makes that key a little harder to grab. Not impossible. But harder.

And you deserve for it to not be harder than it has to be.

Missing one day of school isn't just about that day. For every class you miss, you’ll be playing catch up, plus keeping up with new material.

Source: SchoolStatus, "Why 'I'll Go Tomorrow' Isn't Working"

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.

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

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.