Toppenish School District Extends Call For Artists For Historic BESS+ Mural Project - 11/09/26

The first official Toppenish mural on a school campus will celebrate the region's energy history and future through art.

TOPPENISH, WA | November 9, 2026 – Toppenish School District has extended the deadline for artist proposals for its BESS+ Mural Project to Monday, November 30, 2026. Developed in partnership with the Toppenish Mural Society, the project will mark an exciting milestone as the first official mural in Toppenish's historic mural collection to be installed on a school campus.

Since 1989, the Toppenish Mural Society has helped transform the community into a celebrated outdoor gallery, preserving the region's rich history through dozens of historically accurate murals. This newest addition will connect that tradition of storytelling with the future of energy innovation in Toppenish.

The permanent art installation will be displayed along the public street-facing perimeter fence surrounding the district's new Battery Energy Storage System (BESS+) at Valley View Elementary School. The artwork will illustrate the evolution of energy technology throughout the region, highlighting the sun as a central source of energy for the community.

The mural will celebrate the district's recently completed $1.7 million BESS+ project, funded through the Washington State Department of Commerce's Community Decarbonization Grant. Officially energized during the district's September 17 "Flip the Switch" celebration, the innovative solar and battery storage system is designed to reduce energy costs by approximately $22,000 annually while providing emergency backup power to support essential community services during outages. The project represents a significant investment in sustainability, emergency preparedness and educational opportunities for Toppenish students and families.

The completed mural is anticipated to be unveiled in spring 2027 during a special community family night celebrating the intersection of science, technology and art. The event will invite families and community members to explore how creativity and innovation can work together to honor the past while inspiring future generations.

Artists interested in contributing to this historic project are encouraged to review the Request for Proposals and submit their materials by Monday, November 30, 2026.

Full RFP details: https://www.toppenish.wednet.edu/rfp

Greater Together, Ready for Tomorrow!

Toppenish School District Awarded $7.5 Million Federal Grant To Strengthen Student Mental Health And Support Services - 10/19/26

TOPPENISH, WA – Toppenish School District has been awarded up to $7.5 million through Project AWARE (Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education), a federal grant administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The funding will provide up to $1.5 million annually over five years to expand mental health services, strengthen substance use prevention and intervention, and improve access to support for Toppenish students.

The district is grateful for this grant and the opportunity to work alongside students, staff, families, and community partners to develop services that reflect local needs. Project AWARE will help connect students with support earlier, strengthen relationships between schools and service providers, and address challenges that can affect students’ well-being and ability to learn.

The district’s pursuit of this funding was informed by feedback from staff who work directly with students and see where additional resources could make a difference.

“One of the most important responsibilities we have as district leaders is to listen to the people who work most closely with our students and respond to the needs they are seeing,” said Superintendent Dr. Toron Wooldridge. “Our staff have identified a need for additional support in areas such as drug and alcohol counseling. This grant gives us an opportunity to respond to those concerns with meaningful resources and build stronger systems of support for our students and families.”

The funding will help expand access to drug and alcohol counseling, strengthen districtwide prevention education and early intervention, and connect students with timely individualized support and community services.

The grant provides funds to support the introduction of new positions within the Toppenish School District. The lead role for the grant oversight and administration, a project director, has been posted, marking an important first step in bringing this important work to life. Positions for an LEA project manager and a substance use and behavioral health coordinator will be posted soon, followed by positions for direct service roles including drug and alcohol specialists/counselors and family engagement specialists in the next few weeks. All positions will be based on the 5-year grant period in this new district initiative.

Toppenish School District looks forward to welcoming the project team and sharing updates as services take shape and grow over the next five years.

“This is an incredible opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of our students,” said Toppenish High School Principal Angela Purdy. “When we listen to students, understand the challenges they’re facing, and connect them with the right resources and people, we create opportunities for them to thrive. I’m excited to see how this investment will strengthen the support we provide and the relationships we build with our students and families.”