West Fargo Public Schools
WEST FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) –West Fargo Public Schools expects to have over 1,000 students by the fall of 2028, and leaders are concerned about spacing.
“So, with secondary (students) increasing by 14% in the next five years, we need space for learners. This upcoming year at Horace High, for example, we’re going to be seeing higher, large class sizes but following year we need to make adjustments,” says Beth Slette, Superintendent of West Fargo Public Schools.
In 2023 the district held a vote asking members of the community for $147 million, but it failed to pass. This year they are asking voters for $162.7 million.
“In that time that had lapsed, we did see a lot of increase in inflation. That inflation has really hit us hard, but when we worked with our task force and even surveying our staff there’s really a mixed message on ‘how far should we look out,’” says Slette.
Voters will be faced with three questions, and each requires 60% approval to pass.
The first question includes around $100 million for expansions at Horace High School and Heritage Middle School, and must pass for the following two questions to be approved:
- Question two is around $58 million for a new elementary school and renovations.
- Question three would provide $5 million for a third sheet of ice at Veterans Memorial Arena.
If all three pass, the owner of a $320,000 home would pay an additional $280 a year in taxes.
“Those projects won’t be done right away. So, we will have to make some adjustments and get creative again with our scheduling of our classes and our class sizes. It’ll be full, but if the question passes that will alleviate that need,” said Slette.
If the vote does not get approved, the district says attendance lines will have to be adjusted for the 2026-2027 school year to help ease the growth.
Residents who fit in the boundaries of the West Fargo Public Schools can vote on Feb. 17.
More information on the proposals is available here.
Comments