New School Update

May 2021 New School Update: Diving Into The Aftermath Of The Key Special Election

— Ryan Ulrich, Sports and News Editor

On April 13th, 2021, voters officially approved the $84 million The new high school will be built to fit 1,400 students. This will bond referendum that approves the development of a new high be key as Mandan’s steady rise in growth was one of the many school and elementary school in the city of Mandan. Out of the factors towards deciding a new high school needed to be built 3,277 voters, 77.85% voted in favor of these new schools, which since schools had suddenly started to become more crowded. surpasses the 60% required “When we started doing vote in favor of it. this, we realized we have When it comes to covering got kids and I get that the costs of the $84 million kids like to get out of the bond, the district will use a building when they are majority of the COVID-19 there all day, and it is fun relief money to help cover to go to Arby’s, Walmart, some of the costs. The cost Subway, Dairy Queen or of the new schools will wherever you want to still increase property tax go for lunch,” Bitz said. nonetheless. “When there are 360 kids With the new measure in your lunch room and officially passing, this marks when you have all the the end of the era for the kids in the building you current Mandan High School can not even serve the building that has had a lifespan kids you need to while of over 60 years. Nevertheless there are kids who go the need for a new high school through the lunch line was one that could not be Photo by Ryan Ulrich and they do not have a ignored anymore. A familiar look to a building which has served over 60 place to sit, or they are “When I moved here, people years of students will soon reach the end of its life cycle, not able to sit with their kept saying we need a new with a promising new building looking to take its place. friend group.” high school, so, I think there Overcrowdednesss have been people for a long of schools is an issue time who have recognized that there was a need for a new high steadily appearing throughout recent years, that led towards the school,” Superintendent Dr. Bitz said. “We would have had to use of expanded lunch groups and the addition of some portables bring the rest of the building up to code, which would have cost on some campuses. The uses of these practices further emphasized over $20 million to do, and I think our community recognized the need to combat the growing number of students soon before it putting 20 million towards a building without adding a square foot would become too late. or doing anything other than bringing it up to code and making Though a location for a new high school has not been decided, sure that it is heated is not a wise investment.” three possible spots are being considered. Some of these locations Officials will start the process of designing the schools with include; north of the current middle school, directly west of the ICON Architectural Group. The schools have not been designed current high school, or NW of the current high school and south before the vote. of the interstate. “I think that you have to realize that this is going to be the main While the new school may carry a hefty cost, the district has access high school in Mandan, so you want to build it with the eye towards to a variety of resources when it comes to covering the expenses the future and how things are going to change since we do not want of the school. However, the impact the new school will have is one to build it just for today,” Bitz said. “You want to make sure that that will leave an impact long after it is finally completed. you have enough space and a master plan for things where even “I think long-term this will set the district up quite well,” Bitz if we cannot afford them today that the community decides they said. “My kids go to the high school and they have gotten a good want in twenty years from now or thirty years from now that they education, but I think that we just need more space to do a better are able to build that in and make it work on that site.” job.”