Superintendent Message to the Community: July 25

Tiger Community: I hope your family is enjoying a safe, restful summer. While school hallways may be quiet, our work as a district continues in full swing to ensure a strong start to the 2025–2026 school year.

Here are a few mid-summer highlights and updates:

Hiring and Staffing: We're actively finalizing staffing across the district. New teachers and support staff are joining our team, and we’re excited to welcome them soon. Open positions remain posted on our website at: https://ephratajobs.myschooldata.net/JobOpenings.aspx

Facilities and Summer Projects: We’ve made significant progress on capital improvement and maintenance efforts across the district. Some of they key projects completed or underway include:

• Installing a new, secure vestibule at Grant Elementary
• Upgrading doors at Parkway Intermediate
• Resurfacing the existing outdoor courts and adding an accessible playground in the EMS courtyard 
• Replacing decking at Tiger Cub Preschool
• Renovating offices and upgrading the intercom and security systems at EHS 
• All projects are scheduled for completion before the first day of school. These investments reflect our continued commitment to safe, accessible and high-quality learning environments.

Back-to-School Prep: Mark your calendars—first days of school begin with orientations on August 25 and 26 and our first day of learning will be August 28..Details about school supplies, required annual update forms, transportation, calendars and more are available on our website to help families prepare. Visit: https://www.ephrataschools.org/district/back-to-school

Strategic Planning: We’re continuing our work on long-term planning for finance, facilities and the future. Community input from surveys and workgroups this past spring is helping shape priorities, and we look forward to continuing those conversations in the fall.

Through it all, our focus remains clear: We’re preparing not just for the return of students—but for their continued success. Bridging kids with their learning remains at the heart of everything we do.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support. Whether you're traveling, working or enjoying summer close to home, I wish you all the best for the second half of summer.

Ken Murray
Superintendent
Ephrata School District