Superintendent Message: 2026 Bond Survey Feedback
_1781127371.png)
Tiger Community - First, I want to sincerely thank the staff and community members who took the time to provide feedback following the February bond. We received nearly 200 responses, and I appreciate the honesty and care reflected in your comments. A link to the full survey data is included below for anyone who wants to review it in detail.
The bond did not reach the 60% threshold needed to pass. That means it is our responsibility to understand why and to listen closely to what our community is telling us.
Across both staff and community responses, several themes were clear:
- The overall cost of the proposal was too high
- The timing was challenging given current economic conditions
- Maintaining neighborhood schools in their locations is important
- Trust and communication need to be strengthened
Some of this feedback points directly to areas where we need to improve, especially in how well people feel informed and included before decisions are made.
Moving forward, our approach will be different. We will work to create more meaningful opportunities for input before decisions are finalized, and we’ll also work to communicate earlier in the process so the community is aware of potential projects well before any final package is developed.
Please know, this is not the end of the conversation. It’s the beginning of doing this work better, together. If you’d like to share your thoughts, please contact us at info@ephrataschools.org or at 509-754-2474.
Thank you for your continued engagement and for your commitment to our students and schools.
TIGER PRIDE TODAY. TIGER PRIDE ALWAYS.
Ken Murray
Superintendent
