February 2018 News and Notes

Upcoming WPSD #1 School Bond Referendum

On March 20th, voters in Williston Public School District #1 will have the opportunity to cast their ballot on a proposed new school bond referendum that would build two new elementary schools, add on to the high school, and reconfigure the middle school in an effort to provide adequate space for its burgeoning school population.

According to Williston Public School District 1, the proposed bond is $77,205,000 over 20 years.  The school website shared the following pertinent information about the upcoming vote:

"This Bond Referendum will be voted on Tuesday, March 20, 2018 at the Williston ARC. Polls will be open from 8 a.m.-7 p.m.

Absentee ballots are available at the District Office, 1201 9th Ave. NW. Absentee ballots must be postmarked or hand delivered to the District Office by March 19, 2018 at 4 p.m. 

Below are some quick facts regarding the Bond Referendum.

Key Notes

• Approximately 4,100 K-12 students enrolled in Williston Public School District #1
• Enrollment has nearly doubled in the past decade
• Two of our oldest facilities, Wilkinson Elementary School and Rickard Elementary School, would be replaced, saving on maintenance costs
• New classrooms would be state of the art, designed for the modern learning environment
• Additions to Williston High School would raise capacity to 1,500 students
• Williston Middle School would become one 6th-8th grade building, moving 5th grade students back to elementary school buildings
• Building of the new elementary schools would be concurrent with classes, so no class time would be effected
• Projected completion would be Fall 2019
• Capacity after the building project would be 5,100 students"

According to the district, the actual cost to homeowners will be $215.55 per $100,000 taxable value of the property of additional property taxes should the bond referendum pass.

The district, along with JLG Architects, will be hosting a public forum on Wednesday, March 7th at 6:15pm in the Bakken Elementary Auditorium. The proposed bond information will be presented first and will be followed by a Q&A session at 7pm.

(Source http://www.willistonschools.org/departments/bond-referendum-information)

In loving memory:

• David Jorgenson, faculty, died 2/8/2018, in Williston, ND
• Lavern Miller, Class of 1943, died 2/4/2018, in Williston, ND
• Duane "Dewey" Sederquist, Class of 1974, died 2/21/2018, in Minot, ND
• Eugene Al Martin, Class of 1950,died 2/15/2018, in Glasgow, MT
• Ronald Smith, Class of 1961, died 2/22/2018, in Plentywood, MT

Gifts to the Foundation:

• Brenda Gulikson, in memory of Galen Germundson
• Rodney and Sharon Anderson, in memory of Galen Germundson
• Greg and Audrey Larson, in memory of Galen Germundson
• Jan Berger, in memory of Galen Germundson
• Penny Slagle, in memory of Galen Germundson
• Dave and Tina Hanson, in memory of Galen Germundson
• Chris Mack, in memory of Galen Germundson
• William and Lynn Bosley, in memory of Galen Germundson
• Robert and Eileen Johnson, in memory of Galen Germundson
• Kyle and Tessa Helstad, in memory of Galen Germundson
• Eric Koster, in memory of Galen Germundson
• Steve and Heather Powell, in memory of Galen Germundson
• Mark and Vikki Osborn, in memory of Galen Germundson
• Meg-A-Latte, in memory of Galen Germundson
• James and Denise Bervig, in memory of Galen Germundson
• Susan Hagen, in memory of Galen Germundson
• Orin and Carmen Voigt, in memory of Galen Germundson
• Gary and Bonnie Wendel, in memory of Galen Germundson
• Sheri Skalsky, in memory of Galen Germundson
• Gerald and Cheryl Fleck, in memory of Galen Germundson
• Karen Koster, in memory of Galen Germundson
• Troy and Lana Bratcher, in memory of Galen Germundson
• Boone and Susan Herring, in memory of Jane Thue and Arlo Hendrickson
• Pat and Sonny Hanson, for the Sonny and Patricia Hanson Scholarship
• Abbie and Casey Axtman, in memory of Leslee Bublitz
• Diane Hagen, in memory of Kermit Heen
• Dick and Marg McKennett, in memory of Kermit Heen
• Leinen Family, in memory of Jerry Peterson
• Jan Germundson, in memory of Galen Germundson
• Jesse Hagen, in memory of Galen Germundson
• Marilyn and Brad Olson, in memory of Steve Larvick
• Carly Juetten, in memory of Galen Germundson
• Amazon Smile
• Donna Kirschenmann, in memory of Lori Kirschenmann
•  
  Lance Roness, in memory of David Jorgenson
• Floyd and Donna Peterson, in memory of David Jorgenson
• Wendy and Corey Paryzek, in memory of David Jorgenson
• Russell, Paula, and Bria Schilke, in memory of David Jorgenson, Lavern Miller -- in honor of Terra Ellingson and her work for WPSD #1, and Osmond Skogen
   
• Clyde and Janell Sailer, in memory of David Jorgenson
• Donnie and Kim Daniel, in memory of David Jorgenson
• Susan Snyder, in memory of David Jorgenson
• Kari Hall, in memory of David Jorgenson
• Carla and Matthew Vannatta, in memory of David Jorgenson
•  
  James and Kari Klug, in memory of Lavern Miller
• Sue Kroll, in memory of Lavern Miller
• Lowell and Carol Sandvik, in memory of Lavern Miller
• Ronald and Shirley Miller, in memory of Lavern Miller
• Lee and Laurie Garbel, in memory of Lavern Miller
•  
  Robert  Erdahl
• The Benevity Community Impact Fund (United Technologies)
• Craig and DeDe McIvor, in memory of Doug Stevens, Gordon Strand, and Steve Larvick
• Paul and Bonnie Bennett, in memory of Lavern Miller
• Clif and Shelly Sundt, in memory of David Jorgenson
• First National Bank And Trust, in memory of David Jorgenson
• Charles and Lynn Altizer, in memory of David Jorgenson
• Merri Jo Hendrickson, in memory of Arlo Hendrickson to start the Arlo Hendrickson Memorial Scholarship
• Sandra Odegard, RoseMarie Barkie-Reynolds, Jacqueline Barkie, HazelAnn Barkie-Cox, and Daniel Barkie, in memory of Annie Barkie to start the Annie Barkie Memorial Scholarship
• Sandra Odegard, RoseMarie Barkie-Reynolds, Jacqueline Barkie, HazelAnn Barkie-Cox, and Daniel Barkie, in memory of Robert Barkie to start the Robert Barkie Memorial Scholarship

Read the Howl!

The WHS Howl is now online!  Students in the journalism class at WHS are learning first hand how to write, edit, and publish news on their own website. Check out all the exciting news coming out of WHS by going to The WHS Howl website!

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