Hello United South Central Families,
The first semester of the 2025–2026 school year is complete, and it’s hard to believe we’re
already halfway through! Over the past 18 weeks, it has been a privilege to work with such an
outstanding group of students each day. We’re excited to build on this success and look forward
to an excellent second semester.
2026-2027 Academic Calendar Survey Results and Calendar - Even though the 2026–27
school year may seem far off, we are already well into preparations for the year ahead. One
unique aspect of next year’s calendar is that both Memorial and Labor Days fall later than usual.
Our calendar community, which includes staff, students, and parents, met throughout November
and December and reviewed survey feedback from parents, students, and faculty. While it’s
impossible to create a calendar that satisfies everyone, our goal is to develop a schedule that
works for the majority and, most importantly, meets the educational needs of our students. A
copy of the finalized calendar and the survey results are included below for your review as you
plan for the year ahead.
Link to 2026-2027 Academic Calendar
Link to Calendar Survey Results
Facilities Task Force - We are fortunate to have a dedicated group of individuals participating in
our facilities taskforce. As the school board works toward a potential building referendum in the fall
of 2026, the community perspective this group provides has been invaluable. The taskforce last met
on January 12 to review multiple design options for potential projects. They are scheduled to meet
again on February 2 to refine a proposal, followed by our second community meeting on February
19. More information will be shared as the date approaches. Our school is truly a shared community
enterprise, and we welcome as many voices, perspectives, and feedback as possible to help
develop the best plan for our district and students. If you have questions, concerns, or comments, I
encourage you to reach out. If you are interested in participating in the taskforce or attending the
community meeting, we would be delighted to have you join us.
Winter Weather & Virtual Learning - After enjoying a few relatively mild winters over the past
two years, adjusting to a more typical winter has been noticeable. So far, we have used one
snow day, one two-hour delay, and one early release due to weather. We have one “regular
snow day” remaining, which we will likely use for the next significant weather event that is
difficult to predict. Beyond that, we plan to implement our Virtual Learning plan if the situation
warrants. As we move further into January, please help your student be prepared for the
possibility of Virtual Learning during any future weather-related closures.
Board Meetings and Q & A Sessions - As we start a new year, our school board is once again
planning to hold several meetings outside of Wells to stay connected with all of our District
communities. We will begin by holding our February school board meeting in Easton at 5:30 PM
on the 17th. Prior to the meeting, our board will be at the Community Center at 5:00 PM to host
a question-and-answer session about our facilities project process. Following that, we are
scheduled to meet in Bricelyn in April, Kiester in June, Walters in August, and Freeborn in
October. We also plan to hold similar Q&A sessions prior to each of these meetings, as well as
a session in Wells on May 19th. We are happy to answer questions and provide as much information
as possible about our future plans. We encourage everyone to participate in the
democratic process of school governance and ask any questions you may have.
Upcoming Events and Activities at USC -
-February 16, Presidents Day - No School
-February 17, School Board Meeting (in Easton) - 5:30 PM
-February 19, Facilities Community Meeting - 6:00 PM
-March 12, K-12 Evening Conferences
Go Rebels!
Taylor Topinka
USC Superintendent