Where To Put Students Until New Schools Are Built In Bismarck - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

New projections show about 1700 new students will be attending Bismarck Public Schools in the next five years, which is about 340 more each year.

Earlier this year Bismarck residents approved building three new schools, including an elementary school in Lincoln plus a new high school in Bismarck.

The problem now is what the district will do with extra students until the new schools are built.

Administrators recommend moving sixth grade to the middle school and ninth grade to the high school starting next school year.

However, since the new high school won't be complete until the fall of 2015, administration is looking into finding temporary space for two years for the students who will eventually attend the new high school.

Superintendent Tamara Uselman says, by doing that those students will be able to build school spirit and a sense of identity before moving to the new high school.

As far as the elementary student population, the plan right now is to have the new elementary school in Lincoln complete by January 2014. Right now administration is looking at renting space in Lincoln for Kindergarten students in the fall until they move to the new school in January.

The school board would also like your input by December 10th, they want to hear from parents and students who may be impacted by these enrollment challenges.

Their next board meeting will be held on December 10th and parents and students are welcome to attend and give their input.