BISMARCK, N.D. – Bismarck residents will cast their votes in November on a proposed $116.5 million bond measure intended for improvements across 23 school district sites. Among the proposals, Solheim Elementary seeks approximately $11.1 million, representing the second-highest investment identified in the measure.
The ballot initiative is scheduled for November 3. The bond addresses significant space challenges at Solheim Elementary, a facility built in 1987 that currently serves about 560 students. This population exceeds the building’s original design capacity by roughly 50 students, according to school staff.
The existing space limitations have prompted several operational adjustments. Instruction for some classes, including fourth-grade, now takes place in portable classrooms located outside the main building. Fourth-grade teacher Sarah Crawford highlighted the logistical impact, noting that students in these portables must travel to the main building for restrooms, lunch, and other daily activities. Crawford stated this transition “wastes a lot of instructional time for me,” requiring an extra five minutes or more for students to move in and out of the facility.
Inside the main building, school staff reported that the shared use of spaces creates a “domino effect,” as described by third-grade teacher Casie Rossman. The gymnasium, for instance, doubles as the cafeteria, forcing lunch schedules to dictate classroom timing. Rossman explained that this requires instruction to start promptly at 8 AM to ensure all 580-plus students can be cycled through the gym for lunch within an hour and a half. This arrangement also means some physical education classes must be combined, with two classes using the gym simultaneously.
Principal Tracy Hanzal emphasized the importance of lunch as a setting for social development, fostering positive conversations and friendships among students. The current configuration constrains student services beyond the classroom and gymnasium.
Under the proposed $11.1 million bond, Solheim Elementary would gain four additional classrooms. Principal Hanzal confirmed these new classrooms would allow the school to relocate students from the portable classrooms, specifically mentioning the current fourth-grade classes, into the main building. The plan also includes an expansion of the kitchen and the construction of a dedicated multipurpose space, which would separate lunch service from physical education activities. Further proposed work at Solheim includes the installation of fire sprinklers, modifications to secure the main entrance, and reconfigurations to improve traffic flow for student drop-off and pickup.
This investment in Solheim Elementary is part of the larger, district-wide $116.5 million revised bond proposal, which addresses needs across 23 schools in the Bismarck Public School District. The district estimates that the bond, if approved, would add approximately $3.54 per month in property taxes for every $100,000 of a home’s true and full value. For a home valued at $400,000, this would amount to about $14.18 per month.
The measure requires approval from 60% of voters to pass.