District’s enrollment growth creates need for new elementary school and middle school addition
May 20, 2015
Moorhead Area Public Schools experienced 11 years of enrollment decline before enrollment stabilized and began to grow after a major reorganization of the schools in 2004 that also spurred new home construction.
When Moorhead Area Public Schools reorganized its schools in 2004, it closed the four smaller elementary schools and developed three equitable K-5 elementary buildings — Robert Asp, Ellen Hopkins and S.G. Reinertsen Elementary Schools. Moorhead Junior High, which served grades 7-8, was replaced with Horizon Middle School for grades 6-8.
It was important at the time to create economic efficiencies by reducing operating costs, modernize district facilities, and enhance educational effectiveness, said Superintendent Lynne Kovash.
This year, with 500 students each in the current kindergarten, grade 1 and grade 2 classes, and the increasing need for early childhood space, the district is over capacity. The additional students and new teaching methods mean every space in the schools is being used, Kovash said.
The Moorhead School Board gave approval May 11 for the district administration to continue to develop Phase I of the Facilities Master Planning Task Force’s recommendation and begin planning for a Nov. 3 bond referendum.
The preliminary plan includes construction of a new K-4 elementary school with a capacity of 750 students; construction of a grades 5-6 addition to Horizon Middle School to create a middle school campus, including a performing arts center; remodel of existing district buildings to improve the safety and security; remodel of existing elementary schools to create flexible learning environments; and consideration of an addition at S.G. Reinertsen Elementary School to create equitable-sized elementary schools in the district. The plan also includes returning Probstfield Center for Education to an early childhood center.
In 2001, the district made significant budget reductions, and projections indicated enrollment decline would probably continue. Closing small, inefficient schools saved the district money in maintenance, utilities and operations, Kovash said.
When S.G. Reinertsen Elementary and Horizon Middle School were built empty fields surrounded the schools. Now those schools are surrounded by homes. More homes have led to more students.
In the past 10 years the district has seen enrollment grow by 638 students, with more growth in the K-5 student population. The 2005-06 kindergarten class had 377 students compared to this year’s class of 500 kindergarten students.
According to a recent demographics study, enrollment in K-5 is projected to increase from 2,851 students to more than 3,150 in 2019-20. Enrollment in grades 6-8 is projected to increase from 1,282 this year to more than 1,550 students in 2019-20.
Moving forward with implementing Phase I of the Facilities Master Planning Task Force’s recommendations will create the capacity the district needs to address projected enrollment growth for grades K-8, Kovash said.
The preliminary plan is estimated at $78.2 million. With the board approval on May 11, district administration will now work to develop the final plan and prepare to hold a bond referendum on Nov. 3. The final ballot question must be approved by early August.
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