District to slow down, regroup after Ephrata bond failure
NANCE BESTON | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 month, 1 week AGO
The Ephrata School District’s bond measure did not pass with voters during the February Special Election. Superintendent Ken Murray said the next steps include regrouping with staff and residents, adding voices to the facility study group and analyzing feedback from the community. The district may run another bond proposal in Nov. 2026 or Feb. 2027, though this is tentative and dependent on community feedback.
FILE PHOTO
EPHRATA — Ephrata School District leaders say they will slow down and regroup after voters rejected the district’s $75 million, 25-year construction bond in the February special election, leaving facility needs unresolved while officials reassess community priorities.
Superintendent Ken Murray said the district is beginning a reset period that will include renewed outreach to staff and residents, additional voices on its facilities study group and a closer look at feedback gathered throughout the bond campaign.
“We need to slow down,” Murray said. “We need to reassess where our staff and community is at in regard to what they believe are the biggest priorities and what our capacity is to support those priorities.”
Murray said the district has not conducted a formal post‑election analysis but noted the bond fell “far short” of the 60% supermajority required for passage. According to final election results, 1,592 people voted no, or about 53% and 1,436 voted yes, or about 47%. Voting patterns were consistent across the district, he said, signaling broad hesitation among residents.
The bond resolution was initially approved to appear on the ballot by the Ephrata School Board in Nov. 2025. If it had passed, it would have replaced Parkway Intermediate School, Grant Elementary School and the Ephrata High School Performing Arts Facility, along with beginning renovations at Ephrata High School. The district would have received around $27.4 million in state funds from the School Construction Assistance Program to help fund the project.
Because the bond failed, the district will continue addressing aging buildings and infrastructure on an as‑needed basis. Murray pointed to ongoing issues with roofing, heating and cooling systems, and flooring at several schools. However, repairs to the high school roof will move forward using other funding sources, as planned before the election, he said.
Looking ahead, Murray said the earliest the district could run another bond would be August, though November 2026 or February 2027 are more realistic. Those timelines, he said, allow for deeper community involvement and more time to rebuild consensus. Any bond proposal would need the school board's approval to appear on the ballot.
“We’ve got to make sure what we put in front of the voters is one that we have a large consensus of support behind,” Murray said. “There’s a lot to do between now and then.”
For residents who want to participate in shaping the next proposal, the district plans to open opportunities soon. Murray said information will be shared through local media and district communication channels, and additional community surveys are likely.
Director of Communications Sarah Morford said no meetings or events have been scheduled yet.
“Nothing is planned at this point,” she said. “Anyone who wants to get involved can email [email protected].”
Murray said the district remains committed to working collaboratively with the community.
“The Ephrata School District is as strong as the community of Ephrata,” he said. “We appreciate the voice that we heard, and we’re going to take what we’ve learned and put something forward that our community can rally behind.”
To get involved, email: [email protected].
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