Wishram School Friday Update – July 19, 2025

Hello Wishram friends and families,

It’s been a very full summer here at Wishram School. I want to thank you for your patience as we’ve been working hard behind the scenes to keep our construction projects moving forward and stay informed on some serious changes coming from both the state and federal levels.

Last week, I was finally able to take a quick break and spend four days with my family at the coast. The best part? Celebrating my grandson’s second birthday on July 6th and watching him experience the beach for the very first time. It was a special moment, and I’m grateful for the time—but now I’m back in full swing and want to share a few important updates with you.

Construction Progress

The modernization project at Wishram is coming along well:

The chiller has been placed on the north side of the school.

Heat exchange and fresh air handlers were craned onto the roof.

Our piping crew is continuing to install the hot and chilled water lines to the new HVAC classroom cabinets.

The HVAC crew is also installing ductwork throughout the building.

A new 2,000-gallon propane tank was craned into place on the east side.

All of our old PTAC units have been removed and the wall openings are being sealed with new panel boards.

Our new walk-in refrigerator and freezer are scheduled to be installed Tuesday, July 22. All the equipment is on site and ready.

I’ve been sharing weekly photo updates on the Wishram School Facebook page (usually each Friday). I skipped last week’s while I was with my family, but those updates are back today—so be sure to check them out!

Federal Funding Concerns

At the same time, we’re also navigating some major concerns regarding federal education funding. The Office of Management and Budget is currently withholding key federal funds from schools across the country—impacting Washington State by over $137 million. Small, rural schools like ours are being hit especially hard.

For Wishram, we’re currently projected to lose nearly $59,000, or roughly $660 per student. Here's how that breaks down:

Title I, Part C (Migrant Education): ~$45,000

Title IV (21st Century Learning/Student Support): ~$11,000

Title II (Professional Development): ~$3,000

Title III (English Learners): Risk level still uncertain

Our 21st Century Community Learning Center grant, which we access through a partnership with ESD 112, is particularly at risk. This program provides essential after-school and summer learning opportunities—something we wouldn’t otherwise have in a small town like Wishram. I’ve submitted a formal impact statement advocating for continued funding, especially to protect the students and families we serve. If you’re interested in reading it, I’d be happy to share.

While Title I-A and IDEA (Special Education) are not currently impacted, other supports we rely on—like extended learning, staff training, and bilingual education—are in jeopardy. There’s also talk in Congress about converting these programs into block grants with cuts as high as 70%.

As always, I’ll keep you updated as we learn more. If you have questions feel free to reach out.

Thank you for your continued support of Wishram School and our students.

The Children ARE the key to OUR Success

 

Thank you,

Tye Churchwell

Wishram School

Superintendent

509 767 6090 Office

541 993 1850 Cell

509 767 6536 Fax