Superintendent Message

December 2024 Update

Dear South Umpqua Community,

I cannot believe we are almost ready for the winter break! My first semester in South Umpqua has gone by so fast! I have immense gratitude to all of you who have made me feel so welcome, and have supported me in getting right to work.

I would like to take a moment to provide an update on our strategic planning process. Thank you to everyone who has participated in the feedback gathering process through focus groups, the Institute for Research and Reform in Education (IRRE) survey, answering questions at football and soccer games, and our strategic planning steering committee. Your insights are invaluable, and I am pleased to report that we are on track to present a draft plan to the community in February based on the feedback you all provided.

Additionally, I want to ensure that everyone is aware of the resources available at parentguidance.org, which can be accessed via a link on the home page of our website. This no-cost service offers parent coaching, on-demand courses, mental health services, and view answers from frequent parenting questions from therapists. Parenting is hard work, and no one should feel alone! I encourage you to explore these resources today.

Once again, I want to thank you for your partnership in ensuring positive attendance for every child. It is crucial that our students attend school regularly; a student is considered a regular attender if they miss no more than one day a month for any reason. If there are any barriers affecting your child’s attendance, please do not hesitate to reach out to the building principal so we can work together to find solutions.

I am so grateful for the partnership and support of this community. I wish you all a wonderful holiday season.

In Community,

Erika Bare

South Umpqua School District Superintendent