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For a school district, a true balanced budget will show the money going in being the same as the money going out. And for the 2026/27 school year, that’s exactly what we have on the table, thanks to a lot of hard work behind the scenes. On top of a balanced budget, the district also just finished our annual audit from the state, which  once again was a clean audit , countering some online opinions...

A red Abbey Road Studio sign hangs above a small conference room at district headquarters. Abbey Road is, of course, where the Beatles recorded 190 of their legendary hits. Here in Bethel, this tiny room is where our flagship podcast will soon record its 190th episode. "We’re not comparing ourselves to the Beatles by any stretch of the imagination,” co-host Doug Boyles said with a laugh. “And they...

When people hear the word “audit” they start to get nervous. With personal taxes, an audit can be an intrusive exercise, feeling like you’re baring your finances for all the world to see.  Imagine being audited every year. Here in Bethel, and for school districts around the state, that’s what happens. Every year we open our doors and books to a state auditor who digs into all the numbers. This yea...

With the new Bethel High nearing completion and getting ready to welcome students this fall, we know our community has a few questions. Here are a few quick answers to what's on everyone's mind. First, many are wondering when people will be able to tour the new facilities. We will host an official ribbon cutting ceremony on August 21, and there will also be an opportunity for public tours when the...

Before the school bell rings, our Central Kitchen is already buzzing with activity. And this year marks a monumental milestone year for our hard-working culinary crew, who are celebrating the 10-year anniversary of the facility that keeps our students fed.   Ten years ago, we were serving half the amount of food we do today. Now, our dedicated team prepares an incredible 19,200 meals every single...

We are sad to announce the passing of Bethel legend Ed Niehl. Ed poured his heart into our students as a physical education teacher, athletic director, and coach. It is hard to imagine a Friday night without the bright lights of Art Crate Field, but the area was little more than a cow pasture when Ed started way back in 1949. He literally put his foot down to choose the exact spot where the histor...

While the doors won't officially open until this fall, the dedicated welding classroom at the new Bethel High School is already being seen as a massive leap forward for our students. This cutting-edge program is a direct result of our community’s investment. While other schools don’t have these facilities yet due to high costs, the 2019 School Construction Bond made this shop possible. Thank you,...

Our dedicated operations team is gearing up for one of the busiest summers in our district’s history. Thanks to our community's incredible support, we are officially moving into the brand-new Bethel High School building. This massive undertaking is a monumental milestone for our district, and we want to send a huge thank you to the voters who made this beautiful new space a reality! The domino eff...

A sixth-grader steps onto the wrestling mat for the first time, nervous but ready to try something new. What they don’t know is that the same discipline required to master a wrestling takedown also helps them focus during a mid-term exam. For most of our 4,817 participating middle and high school athletes, sports aren't about going pro, they are about personal growth. In fact, only one-third of ou...

Dena Mariano has spent 27 years teaching in our schools, but she is still finding new ways to grow.  This year, in her first grade classroom at Shining Mountain Elementary, she has seven multilingual students in her classroom. These are students who are learning English, on top of learning the curriculum. It sounds like a heavy lift for a six-year-old. Enter Brianna Kangas, the school’s multilingu...

“Speak a lot! Do not be afraid to express your opinion.” That’s the advice Lyllian, a senior at Bethel High School, offered to those following in her footsteps. It is empowered advice, and likely not something she would have shared three years ago. Her confidence blossomed through a unique opportunity in our district called the Superintendent’s Student Leadership Council. “I felt like SSLC pushed...

The spring sun has finally arrived, and at Kapowsin Elementary that means Amy Dalin’s library is on the move.  While some might picture a library as a place of hushed silence and heavy curtains, Dalin prefers a bit of "controlled chaos" and the fresh air of the Pacific Northwest. Dalin is in her second year as a teacher librarian, but her journey to Bethel began in a very different setting. After...

The smell of fresh coffee is filling the staff room at the old Naches Trail Elementary this week, but the faces gathered around the table aren't familiar ones. Following an electrical fire at Puyallup’s Ferrucci Junior High, our district stepped in to ensure their students had a place to finish the school year. To make the Ferrucci staff feel at home, Naches Trail staff stocked the lounge with sna...

For 16,000 students in our district, their school day starts when they're greeted by a smiling face at the bus door. Our drivers do more than navigate traffic. They set the tone for a child’s entire day, turning a simple commute into a foundation for educational success. Tone is important, but safety is paramount. That’s why we’re proud to announce that our transportation team’s meticulous attenti...

We are excited to announce that nine of our schools have been recognized as part of the 2026 Washington School Recognition Program! With nine schools honored, the Bethel School District leads all of Pierce County in state recognition this year, standing as one of the top-recognized districts in the entire state for student growth. That means ensuring every student group, regardless of background,...

The buzz of a busy high school hallway can be a daunting soundtrack for a ninth grader just arriving from middle school. But at Graham-Kapowsin High School, that transition is becoming a journey of confidence. Ever, a current freshman, felt that shift personally. For her, the backbone of her high school experience wasn't just the curriculum, but the specific programs that the teachers provided to...

Behind every student iPad screen is a complex web of protection designed to keep kids safe. In an era where cyberattacks are a multibillion-dollar industry, our Technology Department isn't just managing devices, they are building a digital fortress. "The weakest link, and this is why we’re focusing on people, is humans," said Mike Christianson, Chief Technology Officer. While the district uses sop...

The Class of 2031 is currently in middle school, but the world waiting for them is already taking shape. By the time they graduate, 72% of jobs will require education beyond a high school diploma. That’s according to a study by Georgetown University. Now, post-secondary education can mean a lot of things. It’s not just about attending a two- or four-year college or university anymore. It can be a...

A low hum from the HVAC system was the only sound in the boardroom as Chief Financial Officer Christine Donnelly presented a hard truth about next year’s budget. “Based on the legislative changes, we are now projecting that we’ll collect millions of dollars less in Local Effort Assistance than what we expected,” she said. Let’s rewind. In February 2026, the Bethel community showed up for its stude...

"English is a crazy language. There is no egg in eggplant, nor ham in hamburger; neither apple nor pine in pineapple. English muffins weren’t invented in England or French fries in France." – Richard Lederer Teaching English has never been easy. There are rules, exceptions to the rules, and exceptions to the exceptions. That’s where a good curriculum comes in, to help teachers connect with student...

Due to an electrical fire at Puyallup's Ferrucci Junior High last week, the Bethel School District and Puyallup School District are currently working together on the details that would have 7th and 8th graders from Ferrucci go to school at Bethel's old Naches Trail Elementary for the rest of the school year. 9th graders from Ferrucci will go to Puyallup’s Emerald Ridge High School to complete the...

When people think of multilingual learners, they often imagine students who recently arrived from another country and are learning English for the first time. In our district, the picture is much broader. Nearly half of our multilingual learners were born in the United States and arrived at school already speaking more than one language at home. That means students often come with valuable languag...

At Elk Plain School of Choice, education is defined by more than just curriculum. As the only K-8 school in the district, Elk Plain offers a unique environment where students grow from their first days of kindergarten to the brink of high school within the same supportive walls.  "What makes it really special is we have the opportunity to have these students here with us for nine years,” said Prin...

Stepping into your first or second year of teaching is exciting, but it often comes with a rush of nerves. That feeling, the one where you want to do well but worry about making a mistake, is exactly what our district’s teacher mentorship program is designed to prevent. It’s more than just training; it’s a commitment to teacher success that ultimately makes our entire school community stronger. Th...

On any given afternoon at Frontier Middle School, you might find a group of students gathered around a table, rolling dice, imagining dragons, and setting off on epic quests. But beneath the fantasy adventure is something a little more unexpected: a lesson in real-life skills. School counselor Nick Rogen started Frontier’s Dungeons & Dragons club not just because he loves fantasy stories, but...