Dear Wapato Community,

I am writing to extend my heartfelt appreciation and gratitude to each and every member of our community for your gracious support in passing the $33 million school construction bond.  Your unwavering commitment to the education and well-being of our children is truly commendable, and we are deeply grateful for your dedication to the future of our community.

With the passage of this bond, we are now able to address the pressing need to replace the aging and deteriorating Satus Elementary, built in 1948, and Camas Elementary, built in 1952, both of which have served our community well for generations.  As you know, we will be consolidating these two schools into a new, comprehensive two-story elementary school that will not only provide a safe and modern learning environment for our kindergarten through 5th grade students, but will also house our WELCOME preschool program, ensuring that our youngest learners receive the support and resources they need to thrive.

Furthermore, the passage of this bond will allow us to address the urgent need to replace PACE High School, which was built in 1936.  PACE High School has served our community and District well beyond its life expectancy.  With this funding, we can ensure that our PACE High School students will have access to a safe and modern facility, with the necessary resources to earn a quality education in the 21st century.

Based on an independent Study & Survey Report, and our own experiences, PACE High School has greater deficiencies and needs, therefore we will begin this two-building project with PACE High School, followed by the combined Camas/Satus/WELCOME two-story elementary school.  In the next few months we will be submitting the necessary state forms and permits, procuring a project delivery model and establishing a design team.  Our goal would be to break ground for PACE High School during the summer of 2025, and our new elementary school in the spring of 2027.    

Once again, I extend my deepest gratitude to each and every member of our community for your support and dedication to our schools. Together, we are building a brighter future for our children and generations to come.

With Appreciation,

Kelly Garza, Superintendent