• August 20, 2025

    Dear UCS Community,

    Fall sports are in full swing, secondary students are discovering new classes and lockers, and buses are out on the roads testing their routes. The sound of marching bands fills high school parking lots once again, and all offices across the district have reopened.

    It is officially back-to-school season in Utica Community Schools.

    This is one of my favorite times of the school year for the energy and excitement it brings to all of our schools. Each year carries the promise of a new beginning.

    The positive momentum of the new year will only grow as we move through the school year. Our focus will remain on making our district stronger through the data driven UCS Empowered Strategic Plan and its focus on the cultures of empowerment, caring and transformation.

    Through our work, we want every student from day one to be connected, engaged and empowered to pursue their passion academically, athletically or in the arts – this year and well into the future.

    One way you can see the strategic plan’s three pillars in action is our open house this Sunday for the reconstructed DeKeyser Elementary. Throughout our district, we have already made critical improvements, especially pertaining to safety, to support a positive learning environment. The work at DeKeyser is the most representative example of our long-range plan for our schools.

    It is why we are inviting our entire community to see this future at the Ribbon Cutting/Open House from 2 to 4 p.m. this Sunday, August 24 at DeKeyser Elementary. The ceremony will begin with a ribbon cutting followed by self-guided tours that display the unique features of the school.  The playground will be open and free food trucks will be available through the generous sponsorship of our construction team, Barton Malow Co., Anderson Eckstein & Westrick and Integrated Design Solutions.

    For those attending, we strongly encourage using shuttles that will run between 1:00 to 4:30 p.m. from Browning Elementary, Eisenhower High School, Havel Elementary, Rose Kidd Elementary, Shelby Junior High School and Stevenson High School. Parking will be extremely limited at DeKeyser Elementary and roads into the subdivision will be closed to reduce traffic congestion.

    This is a busy week in UCS as we prepare for our August 26 opening day. We have updated our Top Ten Things to Know on our website to help you prepare for the new school year. In particular, new dates have been shared 2025-26 school calendar at this link. Working collaboratively with the Utica Education Association, there is an important change that will provide parents with class and curriculum information earlier in the school year.

    If you have a question at any time, please be sure to speak directly to your school or email us at ucs@uticak12.org.

    Enjoy the last week of summer and we will see everyone next Tuesday for another great year in Utica Community Schools.

    Sincerely,

    Robert S. Monroe
    Superintendent of Schools