Priority 2: Need to Increase MSOC Funding

Ephrata School Board Statement:

The Ephrata School Board of Directors is committed to providing high-quality learning environments that meet the needs of all students and staff. A critical component of that commitment is ensuring that districts have the resources necessary to cover the basic, day-to-day costs of running schools - known as Materials, Supplies and Operating Costs (MSOC).

Unfortunately, current MSOC allocations provided by the state have not kept pace with inflation or the actual cost of doing business in today's educational environment. Rising expenses in areas such as utilities, insurance, instructional materials, technology infrastructure, transportation and facility maintenance are placing significant strain on district budgets - forcing difficult decisions that can impact student learning and staff support.

Increasing MSOC funding is not about expanding programs - it's about sustaining essential operations. Adequate MSCO funding ensures our classrooms are equipped, our schools are safe and well-maintained and our systems run efficiently to support student success.

For this reason, increasing MSOC funding will be a legislative priority for the Ephrata School District. We will urge lawmakers to revisit the state's prototypical school funding model and adjust MSOC allocations to reflect the actual costs districts face in today's economy. This investment is essential to fulfilling the state's constitutional obligation to amply fund public education.