Ephrata bond trailing in initial results

EPHRATA — Initial election results released Feb. 11 show that Ephrata School District’s $75 million bond measure failed to meet the required 60% supermajority. According to Feb. 11 election results, around 47.5% voted yes and about 52.5% voted no. The election will be certified on Feb. 20. 

The measure sought to rebuild Grant Elementary School and Parkway Intermediate School, construct additions to Ephrata High School, and make district‑wide safety, security and infrastructure upgrades. 

“Our responsibility to our students and community remains unchanged,” Superintendent Ken Murray said in an email.  

He thanked voters for engaging in the process and said the district will take time to listen and reflect before determining next steps. 

“We want to thank our community for taking the time to vote and for engaging in an important conversation about the future of our schools,” Murray said in an email.  

Murray said the district intends to revisit facility needs through renewed community collaboration. 

“We acknowledge what has been shared over the past couple of months, and we will take time to reflect on this feedback and continue listening to better understand district and community priorities,” he said. “We plan to reconvene, and likely expand, the Community Facility Study Group to reflect, reassess our facility needs, and thoughtfully and transparently discuss next steps to ensure our facilities best support kids and their learning.” 

Board Chair Josh Sainsbury echoed Murray’s gratitude and emphasized that the district will continue gathering community input. 

“The Ephrata School Board appreciates everyone who took the time to participate in this vote,” Sainsbury said in a statement. “We respect the outcome and the voices of our community.” 

He said the board remains committed to stewardship, transparency and decision‑making rooted in local values. 

“As an elected board, our role is to provide local control and represent the community we serve while keeping students at the center of our work,” he said. “While this bond did not reach 60%, our commitment to thoughtful planning, transparency and stewardship remains. We will continue listening and engaging with our community as we consider next steps and how best to respond to district needs in a way that reflects local priorities.” 

Grant Elementary Principal Shannon Dahl said that while the vote was disappointing, the school’s mission continues unchanged. 

“While we are disappointed that the bond did not reach the percentage required for approval, our focus at Grant Elementary remains exactly where it has always been, on our students,” Dahl said in an email.  

She noted that despite the bond’s failure, facility needs at Grant persist. 

“Although the need for facility improvements at our school continues, our dedication to delivering a high‑quality education for every child remains unchanged,” she said. 

Dahl said she looks forward to continued community discussion.  

“We look forward to gathering again with the Community Facility Study Group to reflect, determine next steps and explore what may be possible for our school moving forward.” 

Despite the setback, district leaders say they remain committed to addressing aging facilities while responding to community concerns. 

“We will continue listening and working together,” Murray said, “because our students deserve the very best environments to learn and grow.” 

    The Ephrata High School cheerleading team practices in the commons of the school. Part of the bond measure, if it passed, would fund additional classrooms and a secure vestibule for the high school.
  

    Superintendent Ken Murray walks through the portable classrooms outside Grant Elementary. If the bond had passed, students would have been transferred to a new brick-and-mortar building, without the need for portables.