Following are some of the highlights from the April 27, Ephrata School Board meeting. Members of the public are always welcome to attend board meetings. Meeting dates and times, board agendas and other information.

📋Beezley Springs Elementary Procedural Action

At last night’s regular meeting, the Ephrata School Board held a public hearing regarding the proposed procedural closure of Beezley Springs Elementary. No public comment was received. Following the hearing, the Board voted unanimously to move forward with the formal closure process.

This action reflects a restructuring of how the district reports and serves specific student populations. Beezley Springs has not functioned as a traditional brick and mortar school for the past number of years. Rather, it has served as a reporting entity used to track and provide services for select student groups, including homeschool and private school students receiving special education services and English language learners, rather than operating as a traditional instructional school. The district has determined these services are more appropriately delivered and reported under a different structure and has notified OSPI of its intent.

The closure is expected to have minimal impact, with no staff or student relocations, no transportation or facility changes, and no additional operational costs beyond minor clerical adjustments. The district is following required procedures under Policy 6883 and RCW 28A.335.020. 

Important clarification: The Beezley building located on the EHS campus is entirely separate from Beezley Springs Elementary, which exists only as a digital reporting entity. This physical building is not impacted by this action.

💻 Student Chromebook Purchase 

The Ephrata School District will purchase 500 student Chromebooks with hard cases and three-year warranties for the upcoming school year. These devices are part of the district’s annual technology refresh cycle, which supports the district’s 1:1 learning model by ensuring each student has access to a reliable device for learning.

Each year, approximately 20% of student devices are replaced to maintain performance, reliability and equitable access to instructional technology across all schools.

The Chromebooks will be purchased from Bluum USA, Inc. in Saint Paul, Minnesota, for a total cost of $253,036 plus tax. Final pricing may vary slightly depending on timing and market supply and demand conditions.

🏅 WIAA Agreement 

The Ephrata School Board approved a resolution authorizing continued participation in Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) programs. This agreement allows the district to follow WIAA rules for interscholastic athletics and activities, including postseason competition. WIAA establishes statewide standards to support fair and consistent participation across schools in Washington.

The Board retains authority to set student eligibility standards that meet or exceed WIAA requirements. This action ensures Ephrata students remain eligible to participate in statewide athletic and activity programs under established guidelines.

🏫🔨 EHS Roof Replacement Update

Last week, roughly 20 interested contractors joined district staff and architects for a required site walk-through of the approximately 64,000-square-foot project. During the review, architects confirmed that the existing roof has only one layer of material, rather than the two layers originally assumed. This finding simplifies the scope of work and reduces costs, as the new roofing can be installed directly over the existing roof without the need for demolition. As a result, the project is expected to come in approximately $1 million under initial estimates.

The project remains on schedule, with bids scheduled to open on May 7. Construction is expected to begin June 8 and be completed prior to the start of the 2026–2027 school year.

The district plans to use various existing capital funds for this project.

📊 Bond Survey & Listening Session Update

The district recently gathered community feedback through a post-election bond survey and listening session with community members and staff. Nearly 200 responses were received in the survey, providing valuable insight into community perspectives following the February bond vote. In addition to the survey, the district held a listening session to allow for more in-depth conversation and direct input. Key takeaways from both the survey and listening sessions will help guide how the district communicates about future facility needs, ensures transparency around projects and strengthens community understanding of district priorities.

The district appreciates the time, honesty, and engagement of all participants and will use this feedback to improve future outreach and planning efforts.

🎁 Thank You, Community!

The board gratefully accepted the following donation over $500:

• Columbia Basin Foundation: Two donations of $1,697 to help support children in need at Grant Elementary and Parkway Intermediate schools.