Every May brings that familiar urge to look back and evaluate where we’ve been. People often say we are products of our circumstances—that unexpected crises dictate who we become. But if this past school year at Park City Public Schools proved anything, it’s the exact opposite. We refused to let outside events shape our narrative. Instead, our community stepped up and defined the moment.
Look no further than our response to the December 17 windstorm. When the storm tore the roof off the gym, it not only caused severe structural damage to the school but also exposed the town to asbestos. It was a catastrophe that could have easily crippled our operations for weeks. It didn’t. While our older students shifted seamlessly to remote learning, a network of local partners scrambled to protect our youngest students. Thanks to the immediate generosity of the Park City Baptist Church, St. Paul Lutheran Church, the Park City Civic Center, and the Park City Water and Sewer Board, we quickly secured safe, warm spaces to keep our elementary kids learning in person. Our teachers didn’t blink, families pitched in without being asked, and a logistical nightmare became a masterclass in small-town teamwork.
We brought that exact same grit to the ballot box. Passing our technology levy by a resounding 2-to-1 margin wasn’t just about balancing a spreadsheet; it was an unambiguous statement of our core values. Even in an unpredictable climate, Park City chose to invest heavily in the hardware, software, and digital literacy our kids need to thrive in a modern world.
You can see the full return on that investment in our students. This spring, we witnessed an incredible bookend: the graduating Class of 2026 standing side by side with our graduating Kindergarten Class of 2038. Watching our oldest students head out into the real world while our youngest clear their very first hurdle is the entire point. It’s why this town pours so much heart into these hallways.
Thank you to every single person who built this year with us. We proved that we are not just watching history happen—we are actively writing it ourselves.
Dave Whitesell, Superintendent