Community invited to help shape future of Chelan school facilities

CHELAN — The Lake Chelan School District is moving forward with a new round of community outreach as it continues to look for ways to address aging school facilities following the failure of a bond measure last fall.

The district’s November 2025 bond proposal received a majority of “yes” votes from voters but did not reach the 60 percent supermajority required under Washington law, district officials said. Despite the setback, Superintendent Brad Wilson said the district remains committed to improving school buildings in ways that support student learning and safety.

“We’re disappointed the bond did not pass, but we are grateful for the strong support we received from voters,” Wilson said. “We remain committed to addressing our facility needs in ways that support student learning, safety, and community engagement.”

A facilities study completed in 2023 with support from an OSPI grant identified significant infrastructure challenges across the district. According to the study, Morgen Owings Elementary received a condition score of 50.30 out of 100, while Chelan Middle/High School scored 56.96, both well below the statewide median school building rating of 77.84. The report cited deficiencies in HVAC systems, roofing, electrical and plumbing systems, and safety infrastructure.

District officials say improving facilities is a major goal of the district’s strategic plan and is directly tied to student safety and learning outcomes. The district has reported three consecutive years of improvement in both math and English Language Arts proficiency on state assessments.

In the coming months, the district plans to host focus group listening sessions and launch a community survey to gather public input on next steps.

“We want to hear from our entire community,” Wilson said. “Together, we can create learning spaces that reflect our pride and our commitment to excellence.”

Community members who would like to participate in an upcoming focus group can sign up by calling the district’s Central Office at (509) 682-3515 or by emailing wilsonb@chelanschools.org.

The Lake Chelan School District, established in 1892, serves nearly 1,300 students. According to district data, 95 percent of students graduate in four years, and more than 78 percent of high school students are enrolled in no-cost, college-level coursework.

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media