Legislative Priorities

Ephrata School Board Statement:

The Ephrata School District Board of Directors affirms its commitment to equity, student safety and fair competition in school athletics. We believe strongly in advocating for the rights of all students, and we are especially committed to ensuring that the rights and opportunities of female student-athletes are preserved and protected.

Under current Washington state and Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) policy, transgender females - those who were biologically male at birth - are permitted to compete in girls' sports. While we recognize our legal obligation to follow these policies, we also believe it is essential to advocate for the rights of biologically female athletes, whose access to fair and equitable competition may be impacted by these regulations.

We respect the complexity of this issue and the dignity of all students, but we also believe that acknowledging biological differences in athletic competition is critical to upholding fairness and protecting the integrity of girls' and women's sports.

As such, the Ephrata School District will make it a legislative priority to advocate for policies that ensure competitive equity for biologically female athletes. We are committed to engaging in this advocacy thoughtfully and respectfully, always centering student well-being and the principles of fairness and inclusion.

Ephrata School Board Statement:

The Ephrata School Board of Directors is committed to providing high-quality learning environments that meet the needs of all students and staff. A critical component of that commitment is ensuring that districts have the resources necessary to cover the basic, day-to-day costs of running schools - known as Materials, Supplies and Operating Costs (MSOC).

Unfortunately, current MSOC allocations provided by the state have not kept pace with inflation or the actual cost of doing business in today's educational environment. Rising expenses in areas such as utilities, insurance, instructional materials, technology infrastructure, transportation and facility maintenance are placing significant strain on district budgets - forcing difficult decisions that can impact student learning and staff support.

Increasing MSOC funding is not about expanding programs - it's about sustaining essential operations. Adequate MSCO funding ensures our classrooms are equipped, our schools are safe and well-maintained and our systems run efficiently to support student success.

For this reason, increasing MSOC funding will be a legislative priority for the Ephrata School District. We will urge lawmakers to revisit the state's prototypical school funding model and adjust MSOC allocations to reflect the actual costs districts face in today's economy. This investment is essential to fulfilling the state's constitutional obligation to amply fund public education.

Ephrata School Board Statement:

The Ephrata School District Board of Directors believes that decisions impacting students, schools and communities are most effectively made at the local level. Local school boards are elected by and accountable to the communities they serve, and are best positioned to understand and respond to the unique needs, values and priorities of their students and families.

While we acknowledge our responsibility to follow state and federal laws, we are increasingly concerned about mandates and policies that diminish the ability of locally elected boards to govern effectively. One-size-fits all approaches can unintentionally overlook the diverse circumstances and challenges faced by individuals school districts.

For this reason, preserving and strengthening local control will be a legislative priority for the Ephrata School District. We will advocate for policies that allow school districts to make informed decisions on behalf of their communities - whether related to curriculum, staffing, budgeting, student support services or school operations.

We are committed to working collaboratively with state leaders and agencies, but we will continue to advocate for the flexibility and authority needed to serve our students well. Local control is not just a governance preference - it is a core principle of public education that ensures schools remain responsive, accountable and attuned to the voices of the people they serve.

Ephrata School Board Statement:

The Ephrata School District Board of Directors believes that families are essential partners in the education of their children. We are committed to ensuring that parents and guardians have meaningful opportunities to engage in, understand and contribute to decisions affecting their child's educational experience.

We acknowledge and follow all current Washington state laws that govern curriculum, instructional materials and student rights. At the same time, we believe there is a need to preserve the rights of parents to be informed about their children's learning - especially when it comes to sensitive or personally significant topics.

The Ephrata School District will advocate for legislation that maintains transparency, affirms parental rights and supports open communication between families and schools. This includes ensuring timely access to instructional materials, transparency in curriculum decisions and appropriate avenues for parental input.

Preserving parental rights and promoting transparency will be a legislative priority for the Ephrata School District as we work to maintain partnerships with families and ensure our schools reflect the values and priorities of our community.

Ephrata School Board Statement:

The Ephrata School District Board of Directors strongly believes that high expectations for student learning must be matched by adequate resources and support. As such, we oppose the imposition of unfunded or underfunded mandates that place significant financial and operational burdens on local school districts without providing the necessary funding to implement them effectively.

While we recognize the important role of state and federal policy in shaping public education, mandates that require districts to expand services, change instructional practices or meet new compliance standards - without providing sufficient funding - divert limited local resources away from existing priorities and student needs.

Unfunded mandates can force school boards to make difficult trade-offs, reduce programs or stretch already strained budgets. This undermines our ability to maintain high-quality instruction, support staff and students effectively and remain responsive to our community.

The Ephrata School District is committed to responsible stewardship of public funds and to ensuring that every dollar spent serves the best interests of students. We will make it a legislative priority to advocate for fully funded policies and to push back on mandates that shift financial responsibility to local districts without accompanying resources.

We will call on our legislative partners to collaborate with local districts and ensure that any new requirements are accompanied by the funding necessary to implement them with fidelity and success.