How do we ensure ALL DPSD students are ready and successful for college, career, and life? 🎓Educators, leaders, community members, and even a recent graduate came together to answer that exact question.
Using community feedback, research, and our district’s strategic priorities, this team worked collaboratively to define the skills and characteristics our students need to be ready for their future.
We want all DPSD students to be:
- Confident, independent, and self-reliant
- Critical thinkers & problem solvers
- Personally and socially accountable
- Effective communicators
- Flexible and adaptable
- Contributing members to society and the community
We’re grateful for the voices, perspectives, and passion that made this work possible. This is how strong communities build strong future-ready students in Deer Park. 💙
#DPSD #ProfileOfAGraduate #FutureReady #CommunityDriven
Using community feedback, research, and our district’s strategic priorities, this team worked collaboratively to define the skills and characteristics our students need to be ready for their future.
We want all DPSD students to be:
- Confident, independent, and self-reliant
- Critical thinkers & problem solvers
- Personally and socially accountable
- Effective communicators
- Flexible and adaptable
- Contributing members to society and the community
We’re grateful for the voices, perspectives, and passion that made this work possible. This is how strong communities build strong future-ready students in Deer Park. 💙
#DPSD #ProfileOfAGraduate #FutureReady #CommunityDriven
Friendship/Valentine’s Day = KINDNESS day at our schools! 💘Students across the District celebrated and had so much fun! Shoutout to our students for encouraging others, including everyone, and spreading joy with thoughtful notes and helping hands. 🌟
Happy School Board Directors Month! 🎉
This month, we want to publicly thank the Deer Park School District Board of Directors for their time, leadership, and commitment to our students, staff, and community.
School board service is a big responsibility—often behind the scenes—and their work helps ensure our schools are strong, stable, and well-supported. Their duties include:
✅ Hiring and evaluating the Superintendent
✅ Approving the district’s annual budget
✅ Authorizing public bids and major expenditures
✅ Making decisions on property acquisition or sale
✅ Approving collectively bargained agreements
✅ Adopting core curriculum
It’s also important to recognize how school board governance works: individual board members have authority only when acting together as a board in legally held meetings, and district business is conducted in open public meetings (with limited exceptions for property or personnel matters). In short, the board’s role isn’t to manage day-to-day operations—it’s to ensure our schools are managed well.
Thank you, Board of Directors, for your service and dedication to Deer Park schools! 💙📚
Learn more about the Board of Districtors here: https://www.dpsd.org/page/board-of-directors
#SchoolBoardDirectorsMonth #ThankYouSchoolBoard #DeerParkSchoolDistrict #PublicEducation #CommunityLeadership
This month, we want to publicly thank the Deer Park School District Board of Directors for their time, leadership, and commitment to our students, staff, and community.
School board service is a big responsibility—often behind the scenes—and their work helps ensure our schools are strong, stable, and well-supported. Their duties include:
✅ Hiring and evaluating the Superintendent
✅ Approving the district’s annual budget
✅ Authorizing public bids and major expenditures
✅ Making decisions on property acquisition or sale
✅ Approving collectively bargained agreements
✅ Adopting core curriculum
It’s also important to recognize how school board governance works: individual board members have authority only when acting together as a board in legally held meetings, and district business is conducted in open public meetings (with limited exceptions for property or personnel matters). In short, the board’s role isn’t to manage day-to-day operations—it’s to ensure our schools are managed well.
Thank you, Board of Directors, for your service and dedication to Deer Park schools! 💙📚
Learn more about the Board of Districtors here: https://www.dpsd.org/page/board-of-directors
#SchoolBoardDirectorsMonth #ThankYouSchoolBoard #DeerParkSchoolDistrict #PublicEducation #CommunityLeadership
📣 Community Voices Needed!
The Facilities Advisory Committee (FAC) is meeting soon, and we want to hear from you. The FAC discusses large capital projects—the work that helps us plan for the future and preserve our community’s facilities and capital assets.
💬 Please join us to share your reflections, insights, and priorities. Your voice helps shape what comes next.
🗓️ Facilities Advisory Committee Meeting: January 14, 2026
🕒 Time: 6:00 pm
📍 Location: District Administration Office (N 428 Main)
Everyone is welcome—come listen, learn, and be heard. #CommunityInput #FacilitiesPlanning #FutureReady
Did you know that Deer Park School District has a Strategic Plan that identifies top priorities? The strategic plan was created in collaboration with teachers, paraeducators, administrators, school board members, and community members. The team analyzed surveys, academic data, and current progress. These priorities guide the District's focus to ensure all students belong, learn, and we inspire excellence. To read the full strategic plan: https://aptg.co/0Sdh0Z.
Deer Park School District wishes our families and community a happy new year! We look forward to seeing you on January 5, 2026!
Notification from DPSD:
The National Weather Service in Spokane has issued a high-wind advisory starting this evening (Tuesday) at 10 p.m. and in effect through Wednesday at 4 p.m. The NWS advisory lists SW winds from 25-45 MPH with gusts up to 60 MPH for Spokane and neighboring counties. According to NWS, damaging winds could blow down trees and power lines, leading to possible power outages and difficult travel.
We anticipate that some of our bus routes may be affected by road debris. Please be patient as buses may be running behind schedule for student pick-up and drop-off tomorrow. Additionally, we will be monitoring HVAC and electricity in the schools early in the morning.
Families: Please monitor your email in the morning for updates. If no communication is received from the District, please attend school as scheduled.
For information on school delays and closures: https://aptg.co/35_mMX
The National Weather Service in Spokane has issued a high-wind advisory starting this evening (Tuesday) at 10 p.m. and in effect through Wednesday at 4 p.m. The NWS advisory lists SW winds from 25-45 MPH with gusts up to 60 MPH for Spokane and neighboring counties. According to NWS, damaging winds could blow down trees and power lines, leading to possible power outages and difficult travel.
We anticipate that some of our bus routes may be affected by road debris. Please be patient as buses may be running behind schedule for student pick-up and drop-off tomorrow. Additionally, we will be monitoring HVAC and electricity in the schools early in the morning.
Families: Please monitor your email in the morning for updates. If no communication is received from the District, please attend school as scheduled.
For information on school delays and closures: https://aptg.co/35_mMX
DPSD thanks the early risers from the transportation department for scouting the roads this morning & to the custodial, maintenance, and grounds team for ensuring our parking lots were cleared for staff and students!
Deer Park School District wishes our students, staff, and community a Happy Thanksgiving!
Remember to vote! Ballots are due November 4.
Did you know that if you are a senior citizen and/or disabled, you may be eligible for a tax exemption? To learn more, contact the Spokane County Assessor’s Office at 509-477-3698 or visit their website here: https://www.spokanecounty.gov/219/Assessor
Remember to vote!
Did you know that the short-term capital levy will focus on the safety and security of ALL of our students? It will replace outdated school intercom and communication systems, ensuring proper notification, communication, and emergency response systems are in place across all campuses. Learn more here: https://www.dpsd.org/page/safetyproject
Did you know that the total value of Deer Park's buses equates to approximately $4.5 million? By providing a transportation facility that can be paved, is located in town, and provides for more space, it will allow:
- the buses to be better protected from vandalism and theft (preserving our assets and employee safety)
- eliminate potholes, standing water, and ice (preserving our assets and employee safety)
- allow the mechanics to complete maintenance within the transportation facility (currently no bus lift, so some services need to be outsourced)
- close distance to schools for easier accessibility by the community and families
- the buses to be better protected from vandalism and theft (preserving our assets and employee safety)
- eliminate potholes, standing water, and ice (preserving our assets and employee safety)
- allow the mechanics to complete maintenance within the transportation facility (currently no bus lift, so some services need to be outsourced)
- close distance to schools for easier accessibility by the community and families
Did you know that Deer Park's local education tax rates have fallen sharply over recent years due to the significant growth in our community? Levies ask for a specific dollar ($) amount, and that amount does not change. When there is population growth, the overall cost is reduced becuase there are more to share the overall cost. If the short-term capital levy is approved, rates are estimated to be $2.60/$1,000 LESS than they were a decade ago. To learn more about the proposed short-term capital levy costs, click here: https://www.dpsd.org/page/levy2025costs
The facilities advisory committee learned and recognized that the current transportation center location is fraught with issues. Limited road access (one-way, potentially unstable bridge), inability to add on to the septic system, right-of-way concerns, and an undersized lot all led to the unanimous conclusion that it needs to be relocated to a more safe and central
site. Learn more about the project here: https://www.dpsd.org/page/transproject
site. Learn more about the project here: https://www.dpsd.org/page/transproject
Did you know that when voters approve a District measure, they are voting for a specific dollar ($) amount, and that total $ amount does not change? Depending on the number of taxpayers in Deer Park (and because Deer Park is growing), the actual cost per taxpayer has significantly decreased because there are more to share the total cost. The District does not receive more $ when there is growth. For example, notice that when the high school bond was passed in 2009, the estimated tax rate was $2.69/$1,000 and $3.20/$1,000 of assessed value in 2010 and 2011. Since then, that same high school bond rate has decreased to $1.04/$1,000! The 4 year capital levy the District is asking voters to consider is estimated to be a cost of $1.45/$1,000 which will allow the District to not only accomplish the four (4) project goals from this capital levy, but provide taxpayers a reasonable, predicable tax rate for future planning.
Did you know that the state’s school funding formula doesn't provide resources or funding for large capital costs? While resources are provided for general care and upkeep, districts must rely on locally-funded capital levies and bonds to address larger renovations and new construction needs. To learn more about the short-term capital levy, click here: https://www.dpsd.org/page/levy2025
The capital levy that the Deer Park School District is asking the community to consider includes capital projects (which the state does not fund) that "preserve our past and plan for the future." This is Arcadia Elementary's roof. It needs to be replaced along with the HVAC system. The roof at Arcadia, along with safety and security systems pre-K - 12 (intercoms, emergency alert systems, and phones), as well as other upgrades to Arcadia Elementary, such as fencing and new carpet, along with the purchase of the land east of Deer Park Elementary School and rebuilding of the transportation facility, are capital projects included in the capital levy. Ballots will hit your mailboxes later this week. Photo credit: Angie McBride
Our youngest learners (pre-school) are eagerly watching and awaiting the extension of their playground! Many thanks to the maintenance and facilities team for their hard work! You make a positive difference for our children!
