GF schools launch info campaign on referendum

Grand Forks school officials discussed the pending referendum and building fund request of taxpayers during a forum hosted by The Chamber last night.  Voters will decide the fate of the 86-million dollar referendum and ten mill building fund “ask” in June.

A big chunk of the money will be used to consolidate three elementary schools into a new building with Valley Middle School.  Josh Brown is a member of the Facilities Task Force that developed recommendations for the school Board.  Brown says the $70.5 million dollar K-8 project quickly became a key component of the plan.  “As we started to explore the ideas and ways of how do we resolve the problem and make the fixes we need to make it quickly rose to the top to get the district where it needs to be.”

Superintendent Terry Brenner says if the referendum passes it will benefit students…the district… and business community.

The district is currently wrestling with deficit spending due to growing facility needs.  The school board will look at a plan to trim $4.5 million dollars from next year’s budget when they meet April 12^th.