This week 45 community members gathered at Wenatchee High School for something worth paying attention to: the first meeting of the WHS Design Advisory Committee.

"The response from our community was remarkable — 87 individuals applied to serve on the Design Advisory Committee, and we were only able to accept 45. That level of interest reflects exactly the kind of community investment this project deserves." said Superintendent Kory Kalahar.
 

Parents, educators, business leaders, and community members came together to begin the important work of envisioning what a future WHS building could look like — and what it should do for the students and community it serves. Working alongside Integrus Architecture, one of the Pacific Northwest's most experienced educational design firms, the committee is laying the groundwork for a facility plan that reflects Wenatchee's values, needs, and vision.
 

Why Now?

Starting the design process before a bond measure goes to voters isn't getting ahead of ourselves — it's being responsible. Doing this work now means our community has a genuine say in the vision before decisions are made, cost estimates are grounded in real plans rather than assumptions, and if voters choose to move forward with a bond measure, Wenatchee is ready to act without delay.

Good planning is how we honor the trust this community places in us. Every voice in that room reflected that commitment.
 

Your Turn to Weigh In

The Design Advisory Committee is just the beginning. WSD is committed to making this a community-wide conversation — and that means creating real opportunities for parents and community members to see, respond to, and shape what's being designed.
 

In April we will be hosting building tours, public open houses, and structured feedback sessions where your input will directly influence the direction of the design work. Whether you have five minutes or five ideas, there will be a place for you in this process.