West Fargo residents will have a chance to give input as the School District begins planning for a potential second high school.
Six community meetings are scheduled for next month. Superintendent Dana Diesel Wallace said the goal is to "pick people's brains" and get them involved.
"I think some folks feel it's (the planning) a done deal. Those sitting around the table know that it is very far from that," she said during Tuesday's School Board meeting. "It really is to get people to tell us, 'What are they thinking about?' "
The meetings are at 6:30 p.m. June 5, 11, 19 and 24, as well as at 10 a.m. June 7 and 28. Each 90-minute meeting is at the Leidal Education Center and is limited to 25 people. Anyone interested in participating should call (701) 356-2000.
In a matter related to future planning, the School Board authorized a down payment to acquire 77 acres east of County Road 17 at about 68th Avenue. The board also approved a down payment for 22 acres south of 52nd Avenue across from Rocking Horse Farm.
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The larger piece of land will cost the district about $1.5 million, while the smaller piece is about $660,000. Wallace said the land was secured for potential school sites. Also during Tuesday's meeting, parent Karen Bush expressed concerns about block scheduling and how beneficial it is for students.
She said ninth-graders can take half a year of math in the fall and then not have a math class again until the following fall. She questioned how students can retain information during that time span.
"Why are they not getting a core class all year-round?" Bush asked. "I don't understand how that can be beneficial to my child."
Bush, who has three elementary-age children, asked how much the board knew about block scheduling before it was put in place and why parents weren't better informed. Wallace said there is research about the benefits of the scheduling. Sheyenne Ninth Grade Center Principal Greg Grooters said block scheduling allows students "fewer things on their plate."
Students are still spending the same amount of time with curriculum as before, he said. School Board member Angela Korsmo said the district could do more to communicate with parents.
"None of this is a secret. I think if they knew ahead of time and had a little time to digest it, a lot of this would be more palatable," she said.
Wallace agreed to look into ways to reach more parents with district information.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Teri Finneman at (701) 241-5560
