Minot (N.D.) district passes $84.4 million bond proposal

Approval of an $84.4 million bond proposal in the Minot (N.D.) district will enable the district to address crowding at its middle and high schools. 

The Minot Daily News reports that the money will enable the district to build a high school for grades nine to 12 at the site of the former Cognizant building. The Magic City Campus, which now houses grades 11 and 12, would add grades nine and 10. Central Campus, which now houses grades nine and 10, would become a middle school for grades six through eight.

Students now are transported by shuttle bus between the Magic City and Central campus, and students can lose the equivalent of an entire class period each week traveling between the two buildings.

Creating another middle school will ease crowding. The Jim Hill Middle School is over capacity and has 14 portable classrooms; the new Erik Ramstad Middle School is nearing capacity.

The bond package also includes $24.2 million for a 59-meter competition swimming pool and an athletic complex at the new high school. 

The bond will also enable the district to raise the debt ceiling to be at 10% of its assessed property value.