Voters in the West Fargo School District could face a referendum as early as October on whether the district should build and remodel schools to handle growing enrollments at the middle and high school levels.
The School Board's planning committee Wednesday looked at two potential options offered by administrators, along with a timeline for getting public input, a vote and bond sales that could add a school and expand or remodel others by August 2010.
Option A calls for spending $34 million. That would build a new middle school to house 600 students ($18.7 million), and add space for 600 students to turn Sheyenne Ninth Grade Center into a full high school ($13.3 million). Another $2 million would be used to remodel and update the current high school.
According to the Moorhead architectural firm YHR Partners, the design phase would run from June to January, bidding would be in February, and construction would last from April 2009 to August 2010.
Option B calls for spending about $30.5 million. The plan saves money by turning Sheyenne into a middle school, then building a new high school for $28.5 million modeled on Sheyenne. Again, $2 million would go to update the current high school.
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The district has held focus groups to determine optimal school sizes. A report from those groups and a district survey will come in May, Superintendent Dana Diesel Wallace said.
To get a school open by August 2010, a draft timeline presented by Diesel Wallace would have focus groups on a second high school starting between May and September, with public meetings in late September to October. A bond vote would be held in October, with the possibility of selling bonds by mid-November.
The second high school would hold grades nine through 12, but a wing could be built as a ninth-grade academy, Diesel Wallace said.
Because Option B uses Sheyenne as a template, design and drawing work could start in October, bidding in February, and construction in April to meet the August 2010 deadline for occupancy.
Sheyenne is already built for 600 students so it can easily act as a middle school, Diesel Wallace said.
Holly Budzinski, director of knowledge management, said if taxpayers are asked to approve a 20-mill increase in their property tax levy to pay for construction, it would add about $90 dollars in taxes on a $100,000 home.
Board members said they wanted to look at options to lessen any tax burden.
West Fargo has seen steadily rising enrollment.
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The School Board has addressed the need for more kindergarten space by approving an addition to the current kindergarten center and the building of a second kindergarten center in the Osgood area. But the district needs more secondary-level classrooms, particularly at the middle school level, district officials have said.
Cheney Middle School is already cramped with 1,410 students, Principal Rob Kaspari said. The school works best with about 1,340 to 1,350 students, he said Wednesday.
This fall, Cheney will push its capacity of 1,500 students (30 students per room) with 1,470 students expected, Kaspari said.
Administrators said they will also look at the cost of buying portable classrooms as a temporary solution to the space problem.
The board must also weigh if they think enrollment gains will continue at the same pace. The district gained 200 students this school year, but that's about 60 fewer than expected, Diesel Wallace said. If fall enrollment is less than expected, the board may decide a vote should be delayed.
Board member Tom Gentzkow also asked for an estimate of staffing costs for each project, and for a possible timeline for holding focus groups on the second high school issue sooner.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Helmut Schmidt at (701) 241-5583
