The Kiona-Benton City School District is celebrating several major accomplishments that highlight the district’s strong leadership, commitment to student safety, and dedication to high-quality education.

In recent months, the Washington State Auditor’s Office completed a comprehensive series of reviews of the district’s operations. These included an accountability audit covering September 1, 2022, through August 31, 2024, as well as financial statement and federal grant compliance audits for the 2023–24 fiscal year. The results were clear and commendable, auditors found no material misstatements, meaning any findings were minor in nature. “This is a very good sign that Ki-Be is an entity acting in compliance with government and industry standards,” said Executive Director of Finance John Hassell.

Meanwhile, the district's commitment to student safety was evident during the annual Washington State Patrol vehicle inspection, held on May 28. Inspectors conducted a thorough review of all 15 active school buses and six support vehicles authorized to transport students. The inspection process is rigorous, with any vehicle failing to meet safety standards immediately removed from service. Thanks to the diligence of the district’s transportation staff and the skill of its in-house mechanic, Ki-Be received a positive report from the inspection team. “We appreciate the team at Washington State Patrol for their positive feedback and their team work in making sure our district buses and vehicles are safe for our students,” said Director of Maintenance and Operations Reid Craigo.

Excellence is also evident in the district’s early learning efforts. On June 6, the Kiona-Benton City ECEAP Preschool Program received notice of a top-tier rating of 5 from Washington’s Early Achievers Program - the highest score possible. This rating followed a detailed evaluation process that included staff and parent interviews, video evidence of classroom instruction, and documentation of the program’s practices in five key quality areas: learning environment, child outcomes, curriculum and interactions, family engagement, and professional development. The Ki-Be ECEAP program earned 97 out of 100 possible points, far surpassing the minimum expectations and underscoring the dedication and excellence of the program’s staff. 

“(Our staff) are some of the most hard-working, dedicated, driven and resilient individuals that I have ever had the pleasure to work with,” said Director of Student Services Bernardo Castillo. “They love our Ki-Be children, their families and our community and work hard every day to prepare our children academically, socially and emotionally for kindergarten.”

Together, these achievements tell a powerful story of a district that is thriving, from sound financial stewardship and safe student transportation to state-recognized early learning. The Kiona-Benton City School District continues to demonstrate its deep commitment to serving students, families, and the entire community with excellence.