$133M bond referendum for WF schools heads to voters

By Wendy Reuer | The Focus

WEST FARGO — In four months West Fargo voters will decide whether to approve a $133.4 million bond referendum for building expansions and upgrades the West Fargo School District says is needed to keep up with explosive growth.

The West Fargo School Board on Monday, May 22, unanimously approved sending the recommended bond referendum to voters on Sept. 26.

Projects included in the referendum were recommended by a “long-range facilities task force” comprised of community and district members who met once a month starting in late 2022 to decide on what needs the district should consider in a future bond. Proposed projects would be added to the referendum if it received 80% approval.

Superintendent Beth Slette on Monday said the task force was the “largest we’ve had in our history,” comprising of parents, community members and leaders from West Fargo, Fargo and Moorhead.

“We only ask taxpayers for the money when we know that we need it in the next five years,” Business Manager Levi Bachmeier said.

The final list includes everything from renovations, additions, expansions, land and an entirely new school.

Items in the bond referendum from previous meetings include:

• An additional elementary school to serve the Horace feeder system for $34.8 million.

• Expansion of Heritage Middle School from 900 to a capacity level of 1,200, for $19.6 million.

• Expansion to 1,500 capacity of Horace High School, which opened in 2021 with a capacity of 1,200, for $32.4 million.

• Adding a multipurpose room at West Fargo High School for $1.4 million.

• Additional land north of 12th Avenue North for an estimated $5 million.

• Cost sharing with West Fargo Hockey Association for a third sheet of ice at

Veterans Memorial Arena for $5 million.

• Equitable spaces for elementary schools, $1.9 million.

• Secondary flexible seating for $1.5 million.

• South Elementary improvements and expansion for up to $15.2 million.

• Early childhood special education expansion in the southern part of the district for up to $8 million.

• Renovation and expansions across existing district facilities for $11.2 million.

• Fire sprinkler systems for Westside, South and Eastwood Elementary Schools; increased interior door installation to provide additional protection in the event of a perimeter breach, and improvements and expansion of the district’s camera surveillance system for $2.2 million.

Frank Lenzmeier, a longtime resident and long-range facilities task force member during all three formations in 2015, 2018 WF SCHOOLS: Page 17