Following are some of the highlights from the May 18, Ephrata School Board meeting. Members of the public are always welcome to attend board meetings. Meeting dates and times, board agendas and other information.

📊 State Audit Results
The Ephrata School District received strong results from its recent Washington State Auditor’s Office review for the 2024-25 fiscal year. The district’s financial statement audit, federal program audit and accountability audit all resulted in no findings, no material weaknesses and no significant deficiencies.

The audit confirmed the district’s financial records met state and federal requirements and identified no material issues requiring corrective action. Ephrata also continues to qualify as a low-risk auditee under federal guidelines, reflecting strong financial oversight and accountability practices.
 

🏀 New Scoreboards Approved for EHS Beezley Gym 
The Board approved the purchase of new scoreboards for Beezley Gym at Ephrata High School. The district will install Daktronics scoreboards to match others used across the district, creating a consistent look and improved game-day experience.

The $15,777 purchase will be funded through a combination of the school’s extracurricular budget and a generous donation from Tiger Boosters.
 

🏫🔨 EHS Roof Replacement Bid Approved; Project Set for Summer Construction 
On Thursday, May 7, the Ephrata School District opened bids for the Ephrata High School roof replacement project. Eight qualified companies submitted proposals for the work.

Jimmy’s Roofing of Spokane, Wash., submitted the lowest responsible bid at $550,000. The district will work with NW Roofing Consultants to provide oversight and quality assurance throughout the project to ensure work meets specifications and standards.

The project remains on schedule, with construction expected to begin June 8 and be completed prior to the start of the 2026–2027 school year.
 

💻 Board Approves Technology Recycling Following Annual Inventory Review 
The Technology Department recently completed its annual audit of district technology devices. During the inventory process, four items were identified as missing and will be revisited in the 2026-2027 audit. In addition, the Board approved the recycling of more than 200 technology items that are outdated, broken or no longer supported and are not suitable for district use. 
 

🏀 Independent Play Model for EHS Girls Basketball Program 
EHS Athletic Director Bryan Johnson presented a plan to implement an “independent play” model for the EHS girls basketball program during the 2026–2027 and 2027–2028 seasons.

Under the plan, the EHS girls basketball team will play each Central Washington Athletic Conference (CWAC) school once during the first half of the league season, with second-round matchups designated as non-conference games. The program will also have flexibility to schedule additional games against CWAC opponents or other non-conference teams.

As part of the initial plans for this structure, Ephrata will play Quincy, East Valley and Othello twice, while filling remaining dates with other regional opponents. Games may be scheduled alongside boys basketball contests when possible or on separate days. The program will continue to maintain access to the District 5 2A girls basketball tournament and CWAC state allocations remain unchanged.

This change also reflects the CWAC's overall strength and competitiveness, as it consistently produces top-performing programs at the state level. This year, three CWAC schools finished in the top 10 at the state tournament. Prosser placed second, Ellensburg third and Selah sixth, demonstrating the high level of competition within the league. 

The plan is designed to provide more competitive balance and development opportunities for student-athletes. The girls program has struggled to be competitive the past two seasons in league play, with an average margin of defeat of 43 points in league contests. This model has been used by other programs, including Cascade basketball and Anacortes football, to support program growth and competitiveness.

The CWAC fully supports the proposal, with all nine member districts voting in favor during a May 6 meeting. The boys basketball program will continue its current structure without changes.
 

👏 Thank You, Director Matthew Truscott! 
Matthew Truscott has announced his departure from the Ephrata School Board due to an upcoming move outside the boundaries of Director District 5, making him ineligible to continue serving in the position. His final school board meeting will take place in June.

We extend our sincere gratitude to Matthew for his dedicated service and commitment to Ephrata students, staff and community. His contributions to the district are greatly appreciated, and we wish him and his family all the best in this next chapter.

Information regarding the soon-to-be-open board position and application process will be shared with the community soon.

🎁 Thank You, Community!
The board gratefully accepted the following donation over $500:
Tiger Boosters: $7,500 to help purchase new scoreboards for Beezley Gym