August 2026

Dear Omak School District Community,

Although our schools may seem quieter during the summer, there is a great deal of work happening behind the scenes! Summer is one of the busiest times of the year for our maintenance and custodial crews. They are working hard to deep-clean our buildings, prepare classrooms, care for our grounds, and complete projects that are difficult to accomplish while students are in school.

This summer’s work includes roof repairs at Omak High School, new carpet in several classrooms, replacement of bathroom stall frames, installation of a warming oven at East Omak Elementary, bleacher seat repairs, sprinkler system repairs, and a refresh of the Omak Middle School playground. These projects are in addition to the countless smaller repairs, inspections, and cleaning projects taking place throughout the district. I am incredibly grateful for our maintenance and custodial employees. Their hard work and attention to detail help create safe, clean, and welcoming schools where our students can thrive.

As I shared in our May newsletter, Omak School District is facing significant budget challenges due to reductions in state funding and rising operating costs. Just like families and businesses, the district is paying more for fuel for our buses, utilities, insurance, supplies, maintenance, and many other necessities.

Even with these challenges, careful planning has allowed us to set aside funds over time for needed facility improvements. We know that delaying necessary repairs can result in much larger expenses later, so we are working to responsibly care for the buildings and resources our community has entrusted to us.

We have also budgeted funds to continue purchasing school supplies and classroom materials for our students, as we have for the past several years. We know families are also experiencing increased costs, and we hope providing these supplies will help reduce back-to-school expenses while ensuring students begin the year with the materials they need to be successful.

As summer winds down, please mark the important dates found on page 5 of this newsletter on your calendar. The complete school calendar is available on our district website at www.omaksd.org.

We are excited to welcome our students and families back! Thank you for your continued trust, partnership, and support as we work together to ensure that all students are safe, known, and prepared to reach their highest potential in the Omak School District.

Warmly,

Michael Porter
Superintendent, Omak School District