Wenatchee School Board named Regional Board of the Year

WENATCHEE — The Wenatchee School District Board of Directors has been named the 2026 Regional School Board of the Year by the North Central Educational Service District in the category of Working as a Team with District Administration.

The recognition was presented Wednesday during a Wenatchee School Board meeting, where NCESD Superintendent Dr. Michelle Price presented a commemorative plaque to the board and retired board member Martin Barron.

According to the district, the award recognizes four years of collaboration between the board and district administration during a period that included $18.6 million in budget reductions tied to declining enrollment, rising costs and uncertainty surrounding federal funding. District officials said the board and Superintendent Dr. Kory Kalahar sought to make reductions away from classrooms while maintaining levy-funded programs and student opportunities.

“What made the difference was the steady, principled leadership of our Board,” Kalahar said. “They showed up meeting after meeting, with a student first mindset and commitment to doing this the right way.”

The district said transparency was a key focus during the budget process through regular budget updates, budget committee meetings and informational videos explaining school funding issues to the community.

With federal funding restored for the 2026-27 school year and the district reporting a stabilized budget, Wenatchee School District officials said they are focusing on growth initiatives, including Accelerated Pathways at Wenatchee High School, the Dual Language program at Lewis & Clark Elementary School and expanded school choice opportunities.