Ephrata School Board makes big changes during Feb. meeting

EPHRATA — The Ephrata School Board discussed many big plans and changes at its Feb. 26 meeting. Some changes included a long-time board member resigning, approval of contracts and acceptance of a $100,000 grant.

One of the first matters of business for the meeting was adding board member Alan Key’s resignation to the agenda. Key has been a member of the Ephrata School Board since 2010 and his resignation is effective Feb. 29.

“Alan has been an invaluable board member who contributed good perspective from his background and expertise,” said Ephrata School District Superintendent, Tim Payne. “He has been a stable voice for Ephrata during his time on the board. He will be missed.”

The process to fill Ephrata School Board District 5 is expected to begin in March, ESD Communications Director Sarah Morford said. 

In other business, the board approved the contract to appoint current Assistant Superintendent Ken Murray as the Interim Superintendent for the 2024-25 School Year. Payne is stepping down at the end of the current school year.

Switching to facility matters, the board had two projects they looked at taking action on.

The first was a bid for the construction of a new storage building. The board approved a bid from Exco LLC, Othello, for $223,450 plus tax. The new 40-by-100-foot facility will be built on school district property directly east of the high school soccer fields. This will consolidate off-site storage for Ephrata Schools due to the district renting two off-site buildings and leasing 10 storage containers housed on district property. Ephrata Schools currently spends just over $2,400 per month on storage rentals and leases combined. The project is expected to begin in March, pending any potential weather or material delays, Morford said. 

The second project is the installation of ADA-accessible playground equipment at Grant Elementary. The district was awarded a $100,000 American Disabilities Act Grant from the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. The playground equipment was purchased in 2021 by the Special Education Department with the installation as part of the bond-funded renovations scheduled for the school. This grant removes most of the financial burden of the installation, leaving about $16,000 for the district to shoulder, Jamie Bessette said at the meeting. Due to skyrocketing construction costs, renovation of Grant Elementary was put on hold, also delaying the installation of the playground, Morford said but installation of the playground is now expected to begin in June.

The board adopted a resolution in opposition to Senate Bill 5462 and House Bill 2331.

The Ephrata School District joined several other districts in Grant County as well as many others in Eastern Washington to oppose the two bills which are related to promoting inclusive learning standards and instructional materials in public schools, Morford said. 

Board Member Anita Waller said the bills indicate specific curricula that the legislature wants every school district in the state to adopt and include language that school boards can not refuse to adopt the specific curriculum.

“We, and several other school districts, along with (Washington State School Directors’ Association) and (Washington Association of School Administrators) feel this is a violation of local control and overreach,” Waller said in the meeting.

She said that if Governor Jay Inslee signs the bill into law, they want their opposition to this legislation on record.

The Ephrata School Board, as stated in the resolution, believes strongly that “the concept of local control is grounded in a philosophy of government premised on the belief that the individuals and institutions closest to students and most knowledgeable about a school district…are best suited to making important decisions related to its operation, leadership, staffing, curriculum and improvement.” 

Ephrata School Board meetings are open to the public and are typically scheduled for the fourth Monday of the month at 6 p.m. A list of meeting dates and times, board agendas and other information can be found at: www.ephrataschools.org/district/school-board. 

Rebecca Pettingill is a freelance writer and photographer based in Ephrata.

    Long-time Ephrata School Board member Alan Key announced his resignation at the Feb. 26 meeting. His resignation is effective Feb. 29.
  

    PAYNE
  

    MURRAY