EPHRATA - The Ephrata School Board will hire a new principal for Columbia Ridge Elementary at a special meeting 6 a.m. Friday at the district office, 499 C St. NW.

Board members interviewed four finalists, Deb Knox, a director for curriculum and instruction in the Moses Lake School District; Kevin Weberg, principal at Lincoln Elementary in Ellensburg; Scott Monson, student support coordinator in the Tumwater School District; and Sharon Sellick, administrator in the Ephrata School District.

The new principal will replace Andi Sperline, who will become the district's federal programs director.

In other news at the regular board meeting Monday, Superintendent Jerry Simon announced he expected enrollment, and as a result staffing levels, for the 2012-13 school year to be about the same as the current year. To date, three teachers announced their retirement and three more have indicated they will not be back next year, Simon said.

The board also accepted a $2,500 donation for the district's music and drama programs, the product of an endowment from longtime area business owners Erle and Helen Sola.

The couple owned the True Value Hardware store and were strong supporters of the arts at Ephrata, Simon said. They made provisions for the endowment and donated money to it; this is the first year the fund has produced money, but in the future the district should receive a yearly award, Simon said.