Listen to the Story

In July, our School Board held a third Study Session to discuss the upcoming renewal of our Educational Programs and Operations (EP&O) Levy and our Technology Capital Levy. 
As a reminder, our EP&O Levy makes up 11% of our district’s budget. It helps pay for critical things like safety and security, special education programs, and extra transportation costs – items the state does not fully fund.

Thank you, voters! At almost 300,000 square feet, the New Bethel High School is a massive project. Exterior brickwork is going up on the building, the student parking lot has been paved, and they are working on finishes in the athletics area, including the gym floor! Construction on the New Bethel High School broke ground in 2024 and is scheduled to be completed in 2026.

In a greenhouse tucked behind Bethel High School, Jacklyn Brendible and her students are cultivating more than crops. They're growing confidence, curiosity, and a deeper connection to the environment that surrounds them.
 

You probably know that local schools are funded by your tax dollars, but did you know that schools are not fully funded by the state? It’s true. Only about 78% of our district’s budget comes from state funding. Another 10% comes from federal dollars, and about 12% comes from our local Educational Programs and Operations (EP&O) Levy. Thank you, voters!

Being so close to Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM), it’s no surprise that many service members and their families live, work, and attend school right here in our district. That’s an opportunity for us to support our service members the best we can day in and day out, and also an opportunity for our students to benefit from military-connected programs.

At a recent School Board meeting, the Department of Elementary Teaching and Learning reviewed the process behind choosing a new elementary ELA curriculum, which culminated in the selection of Core Knowledge Language Arts (CKLA) by Amplify, which was approved by the Board.
A new curriculum was needed because our current Elementary ELA curriculum was discontinued. 

At Bethel High School, students are getting their hands dirty in the best way possible – by learning how to repair engines, weld metal, and gain skills that can lead to well-paying careers. Leading the way is James Bland, a former motorcycle builder turned educator.
Bland spent the first three decades of his career building custom Harley-Davidsons, but these days his passion is shaping something else entirely: young minds.

Cedarcrest Middle School is making civic engagement more than just a chapter in a textbook. 
This year, the school is piloting the Youth and Government program, a YMCA initiative that gives teens hands-on experience in the legislative process, allowing them to draft bills, debate pressing issues, and see how laws are created.

Education isn’t one-size-fits-all, and students at Challenger High School are proving that different learning approaches can open doors to new possibilities.
For students who thrive in a smaller, more personalized environment, Challenger can provide an alternative path to success. Academic counselor Alison Von Stein, who has been at the school for more than 15 years, plays a key role in helping students in all facets of their academic journey.

Sports can be about so much more than simply winning or losing. They can also be a bridge that brings general education and special services students together as teammates and friends.
That’s exactly what our Unified Sports program aims to do.