Latest news with #KenMurray
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ephrata schools mulling bond package for spring 2026
May 29—Correction: The term defease was misstated as defuse in the first quote of this story. It has been corrected below. EPHRATA — The Ephrata Facility Study Group meeting discussed several options for potential bond packages for the upcoming school year. "We really began this work about a year and a half ago when it became apparent that we were going to need to defease some of the dollars that were associated with the 2019 bond," Ephrata School District Superintendent Ken Murray said. "We weren't going to be able to complete all the projects that we believed we were going to be able to in that bond." No decisions have been finalized at this time; however, the district did discuss the community's input for the Community Facility Survey in regard to a potential 2026 bond along with information from building surveys. "As we approach the end of another incredible school year, I want to take a moment to say thank you — for your continued support, partnership and most recently, your thoughtful participation in our Community Facility Survey," Murray said in a statement. Surveys The district has completed both a community survey and a survey of the conditions of the buildings across the district. "The bond process starts with a survey of your facilities. Our architect comes in and takes a look at the conditions of our facilities, to really identify where your facility needs are the greatest," Murray said. The study analyzed seven schools within the district. A higher rating means the building is in better condition. An engineering consultant reviewed the district's facilities and their current conditions and found that the Grant Elementary and Parkway Intermediate campuses were in need of significant remodeling or replacement. (See graphic attached to this story.) According to the district survey of the community, residents expressed Grant and Parkway elementaries as being the highest priority. Then, improving the high school was also a serious priority, but slightly lower than the elementary schools. The performing arts center was discovered as the third priority following elementary schools and high schools. Other top priorities include safety and security for students, gym facilities, and preference for current grade configurations with neighborhood schools. There was no strong preference for the historical preservation of any building. "We know that not all of our schools have seen the same level of modernization," Murray said in a statement. "And as a district that is considered property-poor, we face very real limitations in the funds we can generate locally to update and improve our facilities. That's a key reason why we're committed to listening, learning and planning carefully—always with students at the center." Funding models Right now, the district is discussing eight potential funding models for the potential bond. Four of the models range from $4.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value up to $4.80 per $1,000. Each model has a $0.10 difference per $1,000. The projected bond amounts for these models range from $59.5 million to $66.7 million, according to a presentation by the Ephrata Facility Study Group. There are also four potential models for a $0.50 step down in 2039 with the same range of $4.50 to $4.80 per $1,000. The projected bond amounts for these models range from $55.7 million to $62.8 million. "It's as if you took $0.50 cents and took it off at the tail end, so you took a step down," Public Relations Director Sarah Morford said. "So, it goes from $4.60 to $4.10 or something like that in the later years of planning. That allows you to be able to bring in another levy or another bond without a massive impact on the taxpayers, because you're planning for it. In summary, it is starting to whittle the amount of money taxpayers are paying for the bond and it's being dropped to help accommodate an additional tax later, if needed." Three options Option one is replacing Grant Elementary, adding a gym to Parkway Intermediate and adding to plus modernizing the Ephrata High School Performing Arts Center and Beezley buildings. In this plan, Grant Elementary would be demolished and a new 26-classroom school would replace it. The anticipated cost for this project is $47.5 million with $37 million coming from local funds. At Parkway, a gymnasium would be added, which would cost around $7.4 million, all of which would be local funds. A new auditorium would be installed in the Beezley Building on the Ephrata High School campus, a new gym added, decommissioning of the performing arts center gym, demolishing the performing arts center auditorium, modernizing the Beezley class wings, adding a new main and event entry, adding a new office suite and adding two additional classrooms. The proposed cost for the high school is around $42.5 million, with $23 million protected to come from local funding. The total cost for this proposed plan is $97 million, with around $67 million coming from local funds. Option two also includes replacing Grant Elementary. However, instead of adding a gym at Parkway Intermediate, the entire school would be replaced with a new 20-classroom school building at a cost of around $32.8 million. About $23.3 million would be local funds. Option three also includes replacing Grant Elementary, nothing being done to Parkway Intermediate and modernizing and adding to the Ephrata High School Performing Arts Center and Beezley buildings as noted in Option One. The projected cost of this plan is around $90 million, with around $60 million coming from local funds. Looking forward The Ephrata School District has not adopted any proposed bond packages to place on a ballot for voters. However, they will meet one more time on June 2 before the school year ends. Then, the district will reconvene in September to finalize one of these plans. "Right now, we are taking all of that feedback that we've gotten through surveys, through community surveys, staff surveys, through our architect, looking at our facilities, and then really trying to identify, taking all of that into account, what's an appropriate bond package," Murray said. "That's what we're trying to build right now, is put together a bond package for a board to consider for a potential 2026 bond."
RTÉ News
21-05-2025
- Business
- RTÉ News
Finance Solutions to create 100 jobs as it targets €2 billion in mortgages by 2027
Finance Solutions, part of mortgage broker Howden, has announced plans to create 100 jobs and grow mortgage approvals to €2 billion by 2027. The company recently relocated to new offices in Dublin City Centre which were officially opened today by Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe. Last year Finance Solutions facilitated just under €1 billion in mortgage approvals from over 2,600 applications, while it also helped over 2,000 first-time buyers to secure their homes. It saw a 35% increase in mortgage volumes in 2024 - outpacing the broader market and said it now has 10% of the mortgage broker market, adding that it expects this to grow to 13% this year. To support its growth strategy, Finance Solutions has expanded its workforce, increasing from 14 to 60 employees in recent years, and today announced plans to add 100 new jobs in the next two years. "Our relocation to Dublin city centre marks a pivotal moment for Finance Solutions," said Ken Murray, Managing Director of Finance Solutions. "Our ambitions for 2027 reflect our confidence in the market, our commitment to continuous improvement for our clients and partners, and above all, the dedication and expertise of our exceptional team whose hard work has made this growth possible," Mr Murray said. Robert Kennedy, CEO of Howden Ireland, welcomed Finance Solutions' growth ambitions and their alignment with Howden's national and global strategy. "Finance Solutions has been a fantastic addition to Howden Ireland, and their continued ambition is a testament to the strength of their team and leadership," he said. "At Howden, we are committed to building market-leading businesses that deliver real value to clients. The success of Finance Solutions reflects this vision, and their ongoing growth aligns perfectly with our national and global strategy," he added. Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe said that improving access to housing and supporting people on their journey to homeownership is a key priority for Government. "Finance Solutions has shown strong growth in a competitive and vital sector of our economy, and it's encouraging to see Irish businesses like this continue to expand, innovate, and create high-quality employment," he added.
Irish Independent
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
New Louth County Council CEO doesn't rule out Drogheda's city status bid
But David Conway said a multi-agency approach was needed before such a move can ever happen. This would involve both the Council, the Gardai, the HSE and many other arms of the state working closely together in the one direction to become a city. Both Louth and Meath County Councils would have most to lose in terms of population and revenue if the Government decided to grant Drogheda City status. The Drogheda City Status group supported by Drogheda Chamber, local businesses and the politicians have been campaigning for years on deaf ears for the town to be upgraded to a city. Despite the soaring local population and all sorts of promises from various ministers at every election the elevation of Drogheda to a city is consistently blocked by the powers that be within the civil service, at local and national level. The Drogheda City Status group rightly argue that Drogheda with an immediate population in the old borough of 45,000 plus another 20,000 between the Louth and Meath sides of the town, is big enough to be a city. However it believes Drogheda is losing out because it has no local government management based in the town and all of the decisions are made by council officials based in Dundalk, the county town. Both the townspeople and local businesses all agree that the loss of the old Drogheda Corporation has had a severe impact on the town and with no Town Clerk or local staff, Drogheda has gone downhill. In the interview with Ken Murray on LMFM, Mr Conway who is only new in his job, did not dismiss the proposal. He said; "I'm not saying that we should all collectively move forward to get city status. "What I am saying is that we should move forward together collectively to enhance the profile and look at FDI companies coming in, look at an indigenous companies driving forward , so it is a better place to live, work, and play. "If we don't change the narrative in what's there, we have no success achieving it. "So it's a collective issue and partnership. That includes the Gardai, that includes the HSE, it's a collective group. But I look forward to working with these groups to achieve that." The DI has learned the new CEO is planning to open an office for himself at the new Louth County Council offices in Fair Street and is planning to spend some time in the town every week. He has assured local councillors he will do his best to work with them and to improve services, and help make Drogheda in general a better place to live.
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Area districts respond to OSPI immigration guidelines
Mar. 5—OLYMPIA — The Washington State Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction released guidelines in January outlining practices it said are to ensure the protection of immigrant students' rights in K-12 public schools. The OSPI report comes after President Donald Trump's Executive Order 14148 rescinded a policy that limited Immigration and Customs Enforcement's ability to operate in schools, hospitals and places of worship. "We are aware that the federal government has removed the 'protected areas' designation, which previously limited immigration enforcement actions on school grounds," Quincy School District Superintendent Nik Bergman said via email. "While we are closely monitoring these changes, our district's commitment remains the same: every student deserves to feel safe, seen, valued, and accepted so they can focus on learning." Othello School District Superintendent Pete Perez said the difficulty of the changes comes with the speed at which policies are evolving and confusion surrounding them. "Ultimately, schools, for the most part, have been about local control. Then what's happening at the federal level, that then hits the state level in Olympia, it trickles down to a place like Othello," Perez said. "It has created confusion for a number of folks. We're doing our best every day to provide as much clarity and connect dots for folks, because that uncertainty certainly contributes to the tension, and I think our responsibility is to provide clarity, to bring that tension down, and to focus on what we're supposed to do, which is teach every kid who comes into our schools every day." Despite the executive order, the OSPI report said public schools have Constitutional and moral obligation to offer free, high-quality education to all students. "If you're a student residing in the Othello School District, you come to our schools, and we're going to give our best effort every day to make sure you feel comfortable there," Perez said. Ephrata School District Superintendent Ken Murray echoed Perez. "At Ephrata Schools, our mission is to support kids and their learning. We do that by creating a safe, welcoming and encouraging environment for students and their families," Ephrata School District Superintendent Ken Murray wrote in a statement. "We believe that schools are more than just places of education — they are centers of growth, connection and community. We remain deeply committed to safeguarding the well-being of every student entrusted to our care. Immigration policies are at the forefront of national conversations. We understand that some may have concerns about how potential actions could impact our children and our schools." The OSPI report cites state and federal laws prohibiting discrimination based on race, color or national origin. It also notes that Washington state law prohibits discrimination on the basis of citizenship or immigration status. The report also specified that public school districts cannot engage with federal immigration authorities solely to share student information. In Ephrata, multiple school policies and chapter 43.10.310 of the Revised Code of Washington prevent proactive reporting of legal residency to ICE and other authorities. "School staff cannot assist or facilitate immigration enforcement or grant interviews with immigration authorities unless those requests are legally mandated by a valid judicial warrant," Murray said in his statement. According to the guidelines established in the report, school districts are encouraged to adopt key practices to uphold state and federal law. These include ensuring timely enrollment of all students, collecting only necessary personal information and providing educational services without discrimination. Under no circumstances should schools deny enrollment or treat students differently based on their immigration status. "MLSD will continue to protect students' rights within the scope of the law, protect student records and comply with privacy laws, provide equal access to academic programs and support services and train staff on relevant policies and procedures to ensure compliance," Moses Lake Superintendent Carol Lewis wrote in a statement to the Columbia Basin Herald. "We will implement these guidelines in accordance with the law while continuing to support our students and families." OSPI's report says schools cannot ask families to disclose immigration statuses. Instead, schools are instructed to facilitate enrollment by creating alternate methods to verify student age and residency. As part of the guidance, OSPI urges schools to maintain student privacy. It emphasizes that under federal laws, particularly the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, or FERPA, education records should not be disclosed to anyone who isn't a legal guardian off the student. This includes federal immigration authorities without appropriate legal justification. "Moses Lake School District is committed to ensuring all students have access to a safe and supportive learning environment, as required by state and federal law," reads a statement from Lewis. "The OSPI Guidelines for the Protection of Immigrant Students provide clarity on enrollment, student privacy and access to educational services." Moreover, schools must have policies addressing requests for student information related to immigration enforcement, ensuring they are in compliance with privacy laws. The state has protections including RCW 28A.600.475 which prevents school districts from releasing information without the written consent of a student's parent or guardian. The procedures must also be in compliance with the FERPA. School districts can provide information only when directed by a court order or lawfully issued subpoena. According to RCW 13.40.480 parents and or guardians must be notified of such actions. "District Policy 4300 and Procedure 4300, aligned with RCW 43.10.310, limits school involvement in immigration enforcement, which ensures that schools remain safe and inclusive spaces for all students, regardless of immigration status," Bergman wrote. "School staff cannot assist or facilitate immigration enforcement unless legally required, such as when presented with a valid judicial warrant. Additionally, these policies restrict the sharing of student information or allowing interviews by immigration authorities without proper legal authorization." The report also addresses food services for immigrant students, clarifying that eligibility for free and reduced-price meals is not contingent upon citizenship or immigration status. OSPI emphasizes the importance of providing equal access to special education services, affirming that citizenship is not a condition for receiving support under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. School districts are required to engage in proactive outreach efforts to identify undocumented students who may require special education services, ensuring comprehensive support for all students with disabilities. Language access requirements are also outlined by OSPI. Schools are urged to designate language access liaisons and adopt policies to facilitate meaningful communication with parents and guardians who have limited English proficiency. The OSPI document says the goal is to ensure language barriers do not impede education. "As we carefully review how these federal changes impact our schools, our priority is to protect students' privacy while complying with federal, state, and local laws," Bergman said. "We will communicate openly with our community if new developments occur. Families with questions or concerns are encouraged to contact their child's school or the district office." Additionally, OSPI indicated the necessity for schools to develop trusting relationships with immigrant families. By dispelling concerns about immigration enforcement, schools can encourage greater family engagement and enhance student attendance among those concerned about their immigration status, the report said. "I think the particular incident that I'm aware of involves one of our high school students and his family and some of the media that was attracted to that story," Perez said. "It created an opportunity for people to step up and say, 'This is how we're supporting our students.' It also created an opportunity for families to have really hard conversations about immigrant safety plans that they're forced to have because of their status. So has there been increased tension, I think, and fear amongst our families? Absolutely." The report follows the enactment of the Keep Washington Working Act of 2019, which mandates schools uphold the rights and dignity of all residents, including those without legal immigration status. Perez said the focus remains on following the law and OSPI guidelines. "We continue to be responsive through either mental health support or social support or that whole network of things that schools do day to day to make sure that every kid feels safe," he said. The focus remains on students and making sure they're taken care of, regardless of the politics involved, Perez added. "I think it's important in an area like the Columbia Basin that's so dependent on the skill and labor of folks who come to our country looking for more opportunity, that we balance our responsibility and our thoughts about sort of the national politics around us and really focus on what matters in our community and for our constituents, and you know that we treat everybody with dignity because they all deserve that," Perez said. For further information and access to the full report, visit:
