December 15, 2025

As we ready ourselves for the upcoming holidays and vacation, I am reminded of just how quickly a school year passes. Perhaps this one more so than others, as I sometimes catch myself in the realization of this being the last time I experience the routines, gatherings, and events that freckle a school year. 

This year has already provided a great deal of student and staff success both in and outside of the classroom. At the risk of leaving something out, it didn’t take me long in reflection to come up with a few highlights from late summer and into winter. Throughout the last month, our elementary, middle, and high school musicians have been in the spotlight, sharing their talents with family, friends, and community. Mrs. Destiny Hornstein was named Regional Teacher of the Year; Mr. Byron Schneider was a State Champ at the annual Washington State “Bus Road-eo”; Mrs. Heather Schultz was recognized as a Distinguished Educator by WAETAG (Washington Association of Educators of the Talented and Gifted); and Mrs. Shayla Sauther was named as November’s KHQ/EWU Teacher of the Month. EVHS was one of four high schools in the state named as a School on the Rise. Fall athletes and programs represented East Valley at many post-season tournaments and state competitions. With support from our East Valley partners, we launched our first annual Knight Scramble Golf Tournament as well as hosted our third annual Community Thanksgiving.  As for the Golden Plunger… we will have to wait until the Golden Throne to see if the Knights will retain ownership of both. 

In East Valley, we are united by our students, by one another, and by a strong sense of community… a community that makes me proud to call it home. I look forward to experiencing the remainder of this school year with you.  Thank you for your ongoing support and partnership… Together, we are East Valley.

Brian Talbott
Superintendent

Carrie Wilkinson
Secretary, CCS

Carrie has lived and worked in the East Valley School District for 28 years. She is the mother of three children by birth and three through marriage, and the proud grandmother of sixteen, three of whom are from Haiti. She also has an amazingly patient husband of 43 years.

Carrie enjoys kayaking, hiking, gardening, baking, reading, and spending time with her grandchildren. She loves walking, music, people, and especially when her husband cooks. In the past couple of years, Gonzaga Women’s Volleyball has also become a favorite new interest of hers.

Why she loves CCS:
“I was the first paraeducator hired at CCS, so my children and I started together. The calendar, the parent involvement, and the staff drew me in and kept me here when my children moved on to college. I am a better person for being here and spending time with the amazing students, staff, and families.”

Why she chose East Valley:
“My three children graduated from EVHS. East Valley has always been home to our family.”

Favorite part of her job:
“A huge part of my job is giving people what they need to be successful and do their job. I love seeing the successes of students, parents, teachers, and admin.”

Fun fact:
Many years ago, Carrie played the part of Eponine in a production of Les Misérables in San Diego.

Three words to describe her:
Passionate - Adaptable - Nurturing

As you know, East Valley School District will have a bond measure on the February 10, 2026 ballot. There have been some questions regarding the construction history of East Valley High School (EVHS). 

Built in 1961, EVHS consisted of several stand alone, one-story buildings placed near one another. The original high school remained the same until a bond was passed in 1987. At that time, the disconnected buildings were tied together with long corridors and a second story was added to part of the building. Many areas of the building were modernized, however, other aspects such as structure, plumbing, electrical, and some HVAC systems that are original from the 1961 construction. The modernized two-story building was opened to students in 1989. 

Upon a successful election, a new 205,000 square foot EVHS will replace the current and equally sized high school. Because this will be new construction, the high school will be designed with more efficiency and safety aspects than upgrading an old footprint allows. The student experience and safety issues look far differently today than they did in 1989 and certainly… 1961. 

A new high school is only one part of the bond. We will also replace the current middle school with a new 105,000 square foot East Valley middle school. The 25,000 square foot increase will allow for the expansion of adding 6th grade students to create a true 6th grade - 8th grade middle school. 

Lastly, when approved, Washington State will provide East Valley School District with $55 million in construction assistance funding. We have determined that the state assistance monies ($55 million) will be used to make safety and infrastructure improvements at the district’s five remaining schools. For every $1.00 collected locally, the state will provide .25 cents. Though these dollars can only be collected when the bond passes, these dollars will ensure each student and each building is impacted through one bond measure.

Wednesday, January 14, 2026 | 6:30 pm
East Valley Middle School

At the November 25 board meeting, the district administered the Oaths of Office to the four elected board members: Beata Cox, Carolyn Petersen, Jonathan Horsley, and Mike Bly. Recognition was given to outgoing board director Justin Voelker, with the district expressing gratitude for his twelve years of elected service and dedication. The district also warmly welcomed Carolyn Petersen as she begins her term on the board as a newly elected director.

In addition to the oath-taking and introduction of the new director, the board completed its annual reorganization. During this process, board members were selected to serve in key leadership roles for the coming year.

The district looks forward to a productive year with this newly organized board, confident that each member will bring dedication, insight, and a strong sense of responsibility to their roles.

The East Valley School District is creating a Bond Oversight Committee (BOC). Though the election will not occur until February, the BOC will be established in advance of the ballot measure. 

The BOC’s purpose will be to monitor the delivery of the proposed bond program to ensure accountability, fiscal transparency, and community trust in the entire operation. Once established, and after the election has been certified, the BOC will meet quarterly to:

The Bond Oversight Committee members must meet the requirements below:

The Bond Oversight Committee will be comprised of:

This committee will sunset following the substantial completion of all major bond projects, but no earlier than the expensing of 95 percent of all bond proceeds. 

To ensure continuity for this multiyear assignment and to respect the committee’s volunteer members, terms ranging from one to two years will be designated for the original committee members. Appointments to the committee will be made through an application process used by the district and approved by the Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent. If interested, please scan the QR code to complete the application.

Dear East Valley Families,

We want to take a moment to remind families of changes in federal immigration policies and to affirm our commitment to providing a safe and inclusive learning environment for all students.

As a public school district, East Valley has both a constitutional and moral responsibility to provide a free, high-quality education to all students residing within our district boundaries. State and federal laws prohibit discrimination based on race, color, or national origin, and Washington state law further prohibits discrimination on the basis of citizenship or immigration status.

The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) released guidance outlining state and federal protections for immigrant students in Washington’s K-12 public schools. This guidance provides school districts with important information regarding student privacy, access to educational services, and protocols for handling immigration enforcement on school campuses.

To view the OSPI guidance, please view the following document: Protections for Immigrant Students in Washington’s K-12 Public Schools. 

In the East Valley School District, we remain committed to the following principles:

Fostering a welcoming and supportive environment for every student every day, regardless of their immigration status.

Protecting student privacy in accordance with state and federal laws.

Providing access to education for all children within our district.

We recognize that these times may be challenging for many of our families. Please know that our schools are here to support you and your child(ren). We encourage you to reach out to school administrators or counselors if you have any concerns or questions.

Our public schools are places of learning, growth, and community, where students from diverse backgrounds come together to achieve their potential. Thank you for your ongoing support and partnership.

Sincerely,

Brian Talbott
Superintendent

East Valley is committed to building and maintaining strong partnerships with our families. This year, we introduced a two-way messaging platform to enhance communication and allow families and teachers to connect quickly regarding students. If you have not already done so, please visit your app store to download the EVSD app, or go to evsd.org and click Sign In in the top right corner.

Working together is essential to supporting students’ academic success, well-being, and long-term development. Two-way communication between teachers and parents creates a collaborative partnership that directly benefits students in many ways, including:

Together, we can create a supportive and connected learning environment where all students can thrive.

The message below was sent out in November. At that time, who knew we would be experiencing spring type weather in the middle of December? Nonetheless, winter will come at some point and maybe during or by the time we return from break.  As such, please familiarize yourself with the inclement weather information so you know what to expect when the snow does fly. 

CommunicationWe aim to communicate with staff, students, and families about changes in normal school operations by 5:45 am. Closures and delays will be communicated using the following systems:

Inclement Weather Procedures

When snow or inclement weather is in the forecast, we will monitor weather and road conditions at night and into the early morning hours.

Delays and Cancellations

Our aim will be to keep schools open. Please remember that road conditions can change quickly and after decisions have been made; we do the best we can with the information we have at the time of the decision needing to be made.

On ice and snow, be a penguin!

We Belong - We Believe - We Learn - Together, We are East Valley!

In East Valley, we create a culture of academic excellence by fostering an inclusive community where each student belongs, thrives, and is future-ready.

East Valley School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities based on sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination; Title IX Compliance Coordinator: Jane Stencel, Phone: (509) 924-1830, stencelj@evsd.org; ADA/Civil Rights Compliance Coordinator: Jane Stencel, Phone: (509) 924-1830, stencelj@evsd.org; Section 504 Coordinator: Heather Awbery, Phone: (509) 924-1830, awberyh@evsd.org, Gender-Inclusive Schools Coordinator, Brian Talbott, Phone: (509) 924-1830, talbottb@evsd.org, 3830 N. Sullivan Rd, Bldg. 1, Spokane Valley, WA 99216.