November 24 School Board Highlights

Here are some of the highlights from the November 24, Ephrata School Board meeting. Members of the public are always welcome to attend board meetings. Meeting dates and times, board agendas and other information. 

🏫Ephrata School Board Moves ‘26 Bond to February Ballot

The Ephrata School Board has voted to place a $75 million, 25-year school construction bond on the Feb. 11,

2026 ballot. The proposal is the result of a two-year, community-driven study that reviewed building conditions, enrollment needs and long-term priorities for Ephrata students.

If approved, the bond would:

• Replace Grant Elementary and Parkway Intermediate, two aging schools that no longer meet modern learning needs.
• Begin the next phase of improvements at Ephrata High School, including classroom additions, a new secure front entry and office, and a new performing arts auditorium to replace the aging PAC.
• Strengthen safety, modernize learning environments, and support the next 40 years of education in Ephrata.

Read the full press release

📣 Committee Members Appointed for 2026 Bond Voter Pamphlet

As legally required, The Ephrata School District publicly sought participants to serve on committees to write a “for” statement and “against” statement for the 2026 voters pamphlet related to the district’s bond. The school board appointed a “for” statement committee from applications received by the established deadline. The school board did not receive any applications for the “against” statement committee.

🤖 LEGO Robotics Teams Shine

LEGO Robotics students from Grant Elementary, Columbia Ridge Elementary and Parkway Intermediate wowed the Ephrata School Board with presentations of their latest projects.

As part of their annual program requirements, members of each team shared what they’ve been building and learning as they gear up for regional competition in Wapato on December 6. The board celebrated the students’ creativity, teamwork and dedication. 

This year’s LEGO challenge is an archaeology-themed competition where teams program robots to explore a dig site, excavate artifacts and solve missions to uncover stories of the past. Teams will complete an innovation project to address a real-world problem faced by archaeologists, applying their STEM skills to solve challenges related to discovery, preservation and historical research.

Impressive. Awesome job, Tigers! 

📊Year-End Financials

The Ephrata School District closed the 2024–2025 school year with a healthy fund balance, reflecting responsible budgeting and purposeful investments in student needs. This year, the district intentionally used about $603,000 of its savings to support classrooms, staffing, and student programs—resulting in a smaller ending balance by design, not due to overspending.

Enrollment remained steady, with average K–12 enrollment at 2,608, slightly above projections. Although this is a decrease of 5.81 FTE from the prior year, total enrollment—including Running Start and Open Doors—reached 2,706, a small increase over 2023–2024.

Revenues and expenditures aligned with expectations. More than 81% of spending supported salaries and benefits, consistent with OSPI guidance for school district operations. The district also continued strengthening food services, school safety, and special education—areas where student needs continue to grow.

🎁 Thank You, Community!

The board gratefully accepted the following donation over $500:

• Aaron and Lisa Riggs: “The Gun 14x Smart Pass Shoot Away Machine” for the EHS basketball program, estimated at $9,800.
• Ephrata FFA Alumni Association & Supporters: $2,000 to offset the cost of students who attended the NILE Livestock Judging Competition in Billings, MT in October.