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WILLISTON, N.D. (AP) — Drastic change is on the way for District No. 1 schools with the completion of the New Williston High School, slated in time for the 2016-17 school year.
With that date fast approaching, there isn't much room for setbacks and construction on the new high school is still moving forward as scheduled, the Williston Herald (http://bit.ly/1KvPQ3J ) reported.
According to their records, in the past five years, student enrollment has jumped 40 percent. This has caused the District 1 schools to be near capacity and have been forced to move to closed enrollment, which frustrated many parents. The new high school will relieve a lot of the strain that has been building with the increased student body.
"I have five elementary schools in the district and the highest population of students has been elementary," said Superintendent Viola LaFountaine. "Our elementary schools are so crowded, that's why we opened McVay Elementary School"
The site had been downsized due to low enrollment in the past years and had been converted into a Head Start. It had to be converted back to an elementary when the student population rose.
LaFountaine explains that when the current high schoolers have the ability to move into the new facility, the fifth and sixth graders will be moved into the old high school. They will occupy the top floor and the middle school students will take the bottom portion so that there is still separation.
"If I would take all of the fifth and sixth grade kids out of my elementary schools, that would open up probably 10 or 15 classrooms for me," she said.
This will ease the class sizes that average about 22 students to one educator.
LaFountaine looks to expand elective courses, such as the music program so it better coincides with what is offered at the high school level.
It will help with the continuation of education in the student's interest.
With the classroom sizes finally being alleviated, the only issue remains would be the teacher staffing. This year alone, thirty-three positions have been filled but fifteen still remain. LaFountaine said last year she had 46 open positions but was able to fill them in the nick of time.
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Information from: Williston Herald, http://www.willistonherald.com
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