Wenatchee School District welcomed Congresswoman Kim Schrier to Wenatchee High School recently for a firsthand look at two programs drawing attention well beyond our valley.

Congresswoman Schrier requested the visit specifically to learn about WSD's successful implementation of phone-free schools and the district's nationally recognized Student Energy Managers program. What she found was a school district not waiting for solutions to come to them but building them from the ground up.

Phone-Free Schools 

Wenatchee High School has been at the forefront of the phone-free school movement in North Central Washington, implementing Yondr pouches last school year to create a calmer, more focused learning environment for nearly 1,900 students. The results have been meaningful reduced distraction, improved school culture, and a model that districts across the region are watching closely.

Congresswoman Schrier learned firsthand how the program works from the moment students secure their devices in the morning to the moment they unlock them at the end of the day. WHS's implementation has become a reference point for schools considering the same approach.

Student Energy Managers 

If the phone-free program drew Congresswoman Schrier's attention, the Student Energy Managers (SEM)  program certainly left an impression.

The SEM program a partnership between Wenatchee School District, Advanced Energy Management  and Chelan PUD  employs Wenatchee High School students in paid internships auditing district buildings, collecting utility data, and supporting clean energy compliance under Washington State's Clean Buildings Performance Standard. Last year, the program helped WSD avoid an estimated $433,000 in fines from the Washington State Department of Commerce. Paying these fines would have come directly from the operating budget meant for students.

But the program's reach extends far beyond WSD. SEM interns are currently supporting compliance for Tier 1 and Tier 2 buildings across the region, and the program has been identified as a hub for expanding this model statewide; it is on track to save its clients $3 million in total. The Washington State Department of Commerce has recognized SEM as an exemplar program, and conversations are underway about how to scale it to communities across Washington.

For Congresswoman Schrier, the visit was an opportunity to see what student-powered innovation looks like, young people solving real problems, conserving resources, and saving real money for their community while still in high school.

A Visit That Reflects What Wenatchee Does Best

Congresswoman Schrier's visit is a reminder of what makes Wenatchee School District special. When our students and staff take on a challenge whether it is creating a more focused learning environment or building a statewide energy compliance model from a high school classroom they do it with creativity, commitment, and results that speak for themselves.