Why Bismarck Needs More Schools - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

Why Bismarck Needs More Schools

In just one week voters will decide whether or not the city of Bismarck needs two new elementary schools and a new high school.

We sat down with superintendent Tamara Uselman to clarify why the district needs these three new buildings.

The Bismarck Public School District currently has 16 elementary schools, three middle schools, two high schools and 24 portable classrooms.

"What people need to remember in that proposal is that we have the equivalent of 600 students in portables right now," Superintendent Tamara Uselman said.

On September 18th, voters will decide whether to vote yes, or no for three new schools in Bismarck.

"A no vote won't change the dilemma we're under, what a no vote will do is cause us to go back to the drawing board, listen real closely to our community again, meanwhile I'm fearful that interest rates will be driven up," Uselman said.

The school board was given two options when deciding how to accommodate the growing student population.

One option was to add a new elementary school every other year, and then add a high school later on, or the option which voters will decide on, building two new elementary schools and a new high school now.

"That proposal came to $86.5 million, which is significantly less than this idea of building more elementaries every other year," Uselman said.

Adding the new high school in addition to the two elementary schools, would put k-5 students in the elementary schools, place 6th-8th graders in the middle schools, and 9th-12th graders in the high schools.

"This proposal, based on our conservative numbers would give us breathing room for a good five years," Uselman said.

Because with at least 250 more students expected each year in the district, more classrooms will be needed to fit those students.

Uselman says that the bond would cost about nine dollars a month on every $150,000 dollars of property value, and that the three new schools will hold roughly 2200 students.

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday September 18th, you can vote at any of the Bismarck elementary or middle schools.