Listen to the Story

Maybe your kid wants to be a mechanic. Maybe a nurse. Maybe they want to start their own business, join the Army, or become an electrician. No matter what path they choose, they’re going to need skills, training, and experience.
That starts in high school … but it doesn’t end there.
Here in Bethel, we’re proud that more than 90% of our students earn a high school diploma. That’s a big deal. 
But here’s the hard truth: just graduating high school isn’t enough anymore. Many students finish high school, but don’t take the next step – whether that’s learning a trade, going to college, joining the military, or starting an apprenticeship. And that’s where the real challenge starts.

For nearly 35 years, the readerboard at Graham Elementary School has displayed information about countless upcoming events, along with school and community news. What you may not know is that the piece of land the readerboard stands on belonged all along to Dolores Jarvis, a longtime community member and steadfast supporter of the Bethel School District. For more than three decades, she allowed us to use the land for the readerboard, free of charge.
Recently, in a deeply generous gesture, Mrs. Jarvis approached the District with an offer: to donate this one-acre property, located directly next to Graham Elementary, to the district.

News and updates from around the Bethel School District.

It’s been over a decade since voters initially approved our Technology Capital Levy and put iPads into the hands of students across the district. Since then, the Capital Levy has been renewed every four years by voters to keep our students technologically literate in an ever-changing world.
How were iPads chosen?Back in 2013, before the Technology Levy went before voters, our Technology team conducted a pilot at two schools, trying out a number of different devices that were under consideration. Chief Technology Officer Mike Christianson said Chromebooks, laptops, and tablets were all given a trial run. “We did extensive pilots and got feedback from all of our users and overwhelmingly the Apple iPad was picked,” he said.
Mike said one reason was that Apple had the biggest educational ecosystem at the time. He also said the iPads were a good size and easy to use for all students.
So once the Technology Capital Levy was approved by voters in 2014, it was time to buy a few iPads. 
About 20,000 of them.
One for each student.
Technology is ever evolving, and that’s why it won’t surprise you to know that the iPads purchased for students in 2014 aren’t still in use here in Bethel.
“Those get swapped out all at once, every 3-4 years,” Mike said.
He said the swap is done by grade, so all grade levels are using the same version of devices.
Swapping in the new devices for the old is a huge undertaking. All of the elementary schools are done at the same time, usually during the summer, which means there are 10,000 new devices coming in, and 10,000 old devices going out. 
Dealing with 20,000 ipads all at once is something Mike’s team has perfected over the years. “Right now we can reset all elementary iPads in three days. It used to take us three days per elementary,” he said.
What happens to the old iPads?Those old iPads still have a life ahead of them, just not here in Bethel. Mike’s team works with resellers to get the best value for the old devices. That makes every tax dollar stretch even further.
“We’ve added millions of dollars back into our Tech Levy budget funds to replace devices and keep the overall budget on track,” Mike said. 
But without good infrastructure, those iPads wouldn’t be very useful. The Technology Capital Levy also pays for our internet and wireless (WiFi) systems, our data center and servers, hardware, software, mobile hotspots, and the critically important, internet security.
Alongside that, money from the Technology Capital Levy also supports some staff positions, including tech support and some of our Teachers on Special Assignment (TOSAs). 
Next year, both our Educational Programs and Operations (EP&O)* Levy and our Technology Capital Levy will be up for renewal. These levies are on a four year cycle and are critical funding for our district. Voters have renewed the EP&O Levy every four years for decades, and they’ve renewed the Technology Capital Levy every four years since it was first put before voters in 2014. Pending School Board approval, both of these levies are expected to be on the ballot in 2026.
 
*The EP&O Levy basically pays for everything the state doesn’t fully fund when it comes to basic education. The state’s funding model has been outdated for some time, and all districts require more money than the state provides to support students. About 98% of our EP&O Levy pays for salaries and benefits for positions the state underfunds.
 

News and updates from around the Bethel School District.

Thank you, voters! The much needed expansion of Evergreen Elementary is complete and welcomed students on the first day of school!

An assistant principal at Cedarcrest Middle is seeing the impact of mentorship firsthand as two of his former student-athletes return to school as paraeducators with a mission to give back.

News and updates from around the Bethel School District.

What does it take to build schools where kids feel safe, supported, and ready to learn? In Bethel, one of the key components is strong behavior systems. With that in mind, this summer we hosted nationally recognized experts Jessica and John Hannigan to help us make those systems even stronger.
The Hannigans have been working closely with Bethel for some time, helping our schools design and strengthen social-emotional and behavioral systems that put students first. This summer, they once again met with school and department behavior teams for a full day of collaboration and training.
 

The Bethel School District has once again been recognized by Forbes as one of America’s Best Employers By State. This is the sixth year in a row that Bethel has made the list.
Bethel ​​is the only school district in Pierce County to receive this honor.
 

At Spanaway Lake High School, a small robotics team is making big waves and proving that you don’t need a massive budget to compete with the best.
Led by coach Ryan Pearson, a retired U.S. Air Force officer turned educator, the SLHS robotics program has quietly grown into something remarkable. With a shoestring budget, limited resources, and a small but dedicated group of students, the team has spent years competing against schools with massive programs, often coming up short – but never giving up.

Nearly a decade ago, a group of kindergartners took their first steps into a new kind of classroom. Today, they’re multilingual and fluent in the power of possibility.
Those students – who recently finished their freshman year at Spanaway Lake High School – are the first full cohort to move through our district’s Dual Language program from kindergarten to high school. Along the way, they’ve gained more than just reading, writing, and speaking skills in two languages. They’ve also built cultural connections and opened doors to future careers and opportunities.

Short stories, news, and information from the Bethel School District.

“You can’t say ‘we’re listening’ and not ask people what they think.”
That’s a quote from Superintendent Brian Lowney during the inaugural Coffee with the Superintendent event. This first gathering was geared towards staff, but now Lowney is expanding the invitation to the entire community.

Within the walls of Bethel High School, a small but mighty academic community is quietly preparing students for success on a global scale.
That community is the Cambridge Program, which is an internationally recognized college preparatory track that’s become a transformative experience for students seeking academic rigor and global opportunity.

Short stories, news, and information from the Bethel School District.