Dickinson Teachers Gear up for a Big Year - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

Dickinson Teachers Gear up for a Big Year

A stream of families continues to register new students, right up until the first day of school.

As enrollment numbers grow, teachers in Dickinson gear up for a big year.

Right now, it's the quiet before the bell rings.

"Every room in the building is utilized whether it's a classroom or storage room, it's going to be pretty packed, lunchroom, playground."

Scott Obrigewitch is heading into his "lucky 13th" year teaching at Hagen Junior High.

He's one of around 250 elementary and high school teachers getting annual training before the first day of school.

"We're all passionate about teaching, coming into this pep talk, get new ideas is very exciting for all of us." says Obrigewitch.

"Teachers themselves have the answers within their teams, finding new ways to work collaboratively to serve students and ensure learning is what we're hopeful they'll take away.' says Kathrein.

Dickinson had to fill thirty-six certified teaching and administrative positions this hiring season.

That's to keep up with a growing student population.

"We do have a lot of students moving in and out of our district and that is new to us in Dickinson, so that is a challenge, there are always." says Melanie Kathrein/Director of Instruction.

"I like to move around so when all those desks are crammed in there, obviously the more students that are crammed in, it gets pretty cluttered, it does make it more difficult as far as behaviors... " says Obrigewitch.

Dickinson elementaries have 140 more students enrolled right now than in the fall of 2011.

Grades 7 through 12 estimate 35 more students than last year.

Numbers that have all teachers getting creative.

"There's going to be growth throughout the school year, it's also exciting being a geography teacher, getting kids from other places, we actually did have some students come from overseas." says Obrigewitch.

Dickinson's kindergarten has 273 students--this is the largest class of any grade since the early 1990s.

Prairie Rose Elementary is the newest school in the district.

It's still under construction but will open by fall 2013.