Ephrata School Board accepts grant, reviews finances

EPHRATA — The Ephrata School Board had a busy evening during their regular meeting Monday night with multiple financial topics, security and the acceptance of the resignation of Superintendent Tim Payne.

“It has been an honor to serve as Ephrata’s superintendent. Ephrata is a special place with great schools and great community pride. I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to work alongside such dedicated employees, passionate students and supportive families. I will cherish the memories of the good work we accomplished together,” Payne said in a Jan. 10 announcement that he was resigning for health and family reasons. 

Staff with the district were also able to announce the award of a $165,000 Healthy Kids, Healthy Schools grant from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. The funding will be utilized to modernize and upgrade the electrical systems at Grant Elementary, Parkway Intermediate and Ephrata High schools. New double-stack convection ovens and hoods will be purchased for each of the schools as well. 

Ephrata Schools Director of Business and Finance Allison Razey also provided a report on the overall financial health of the district. Much of the funding for the school district is based on full-time equivalent enrollment — calculated to student credit hours for those enrolled in the district full-time for the entire year. Razey said the district has just more than 2,600 students enrolled, about 72 more than projected and budgeted for at the beginning of the school year which adds to the district’s financial health. The district has also made a principal and interest payment on its current bond. 

In a late 2023 interview with the Columbia Basin Herald, Payne said most students eat for free at Ephrata School District’s various cafeterias. The number of students fed has risen year over year from the 2022-23 school year to the current year. Last school year, a little more than 37,000 breakfasts were served through the schools. Now, nearly 67,000 meals have been served. Lunches have risen from about 82,000 to more than 92,000 meals served. 

Payne said the school district is generally on track with its budget with only the minor adjustments that come up throughout the year as minor but urgent needs arise such as unforeseeable facility repairs. 

“Roughly 82% of the district’s $42 million budget is spent on staff to support kids and learning,” Payne said.

The Grant County Public Utility District and the City of Ephrata are the two largest employers in town, Payne said, with the school district coming in third with administrative staff, teachers, paraeducators and other staff doing what it takes to ensure students are educated and safe. The district reported a staff of 455 as of November 2023. Ensuring the right people remain on staff is important and Ephrata is unique in its retention and hiring, Payne said. 

“The Ephrata School District, unlike what you’re seeing around the country and particularly in Washington state right now, everybody’s cutting. Especially on the west side along the Interstate 5 corridor, you’re seeing people cutting,” he said. 

Payne said fiscal responsibility on the part of Razey, principals and other staff has made it possible for the district to focus on its priority of putting students first. He referred to the overall concept of putting students before staff and staff before stuff as the guiding principle for the district. Focusing on the people in the school buildings helps the district make decisions that allow for success, he said. He referred to the budgeting philosophy as the three Ss – students, staff and stuff.

“Because that’s our priority, right,” Payne said. “And when you exist for kids and learning, what kids are learning means ‘students,’ right. And then what’s the most important adult is the staffing, teachers and all of us adults. … So you want to see if your budget reflects that, right, so our budget here reflects that tremendously.” 

During the school board meeting on Monday, the board also approved the purchase of 19 new security cameras for Grant Elementary at a cost of just under $56,000. That cost includes materials, installation and permits and work is expected to start during Spring Break, according to a statement from the district. 

Staff, students and community members also observed Board Appreciation Month in honor of the school board’s service to the community. The current board consists of Board Chair Anita Waller, Vice Chair Alan Key, Mike Fleurkens, Jim Adams and Josh Sainsbury. 

R. Hans “Rob” Miller may be reached at editor@columbiabasinherald.com. He lives in Ephrata with his wife, their three dogs and loads of board games.