Superintendent's Weekly Update

January 9, 2025

Dear PUSD Families,

Welcome back, and happy New Year. It has been wonderful to see our students and staff return to campus. Our first week back has been filled with energy, learning, and the familiar joy that comes with having our schools fully alive again.

Today, the Governor released the proposed state budget for 2026–27. We are reviewing the details and will share more once we have a clearer understanding of what it may mean locally. Keeping our community informed and stewarding our resources responsibly remain important commitments to you and our schools.

I also want to share a few upcoming Board of Education meetings of note. Next week, the Board will hold a governance workshop focused on strengthening effective governance practices in support of our students and district. The Board’s regular business meeting will take place on January 22, followed by a special budget workshop on February 12.

Thank you for your continued partnership and trust. We look forward to a strong and meaningful year ahead.

Sincerely,

Ben

Our Winter 2026 issue of EmpowerEd is now available! Visit the district's website to read about Cultures of Thinking, PUSD's efforts on fiscal responsibility, and much more!

Poway Unified’s semi-annual family survey has been sent to all families. You should have received a unique survey link via email from ThoughtExchange (notifications@thoughtexchange.com). If you have not yet seen it, please check your spam or junk folder. The survey takes about 10 minutes to complete and remains open through January 21.

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. If you have any questions or have trouble finding your link, please contact communications@powayusd.com. Thank you in advance for your participation. Your input helps us to improve the overall educational experience in PUSD.

Planning ahead for next school year starts now. Review this recent announcement for key enrollment and registration dates for the 2026–27 school year. It includes timelines for new students, returning families, and intradistrict transfers. We encourage families to review the dates and bookmark important milestones to ensure a smooth start next fall.

Are you navigating the ups and downs of parenting a young child? Do tantrums, defiance, or other challenging behaviors leave you feeling overwhelmed?

Join us for an interactive workshop designed specifically for parents of TK-5th grade students. Drawing from over 20 years of Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) expertise, this course will equip you with practical tools to address common behavioral challenges. Your child’s success starts with empowered parenting – take the first step today!

Date: Wednesday, January 14, 2026

Time: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Location: Online via Zoom (Class Code To Enroll: 15593)

Tuition: $35/individual or $40/couple

An Individualized Education Plan (IEP) is a team effort, and you are a key member of that team. Come learn more about the IEP process and timeline.

Discover effective strategies to ask questions, request changes, express ideas, and resolve conflicts that may arise. Learn and practice easy ways to de-stress and care for your body and mind as a caregiver or parent. Raising a child with disabilities can be isolating at times, but you truly are not alone.

Date: Wednesday, January 20, 2026

Time: 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Location: Online via Zoom (Class Code To Enroll: 15586)

Tuition: $35/individual or $40/couple

• Employment Opportunities
• New Student Enrollment
• Board Meeting Agenda and Minutes
• District Calendars

• January 19, 2026 - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Non-student Day)
• January 26, 2026 - Professional Growth Day (Non-student Day)

Click here for the full calendar.