GF schools answer referendum questions

With a Grand Forks school referendum election just days away district personnel held a Facebook “Live” session last night (Thursday) to talk about the pending vote.

Viewer questions ranged from how the proposed K-8 campus would be situated at Valley Middle School to traffic patterns….facility needs…and the future of north end elementary schools.

On the financial front Superintendent Terry Brenner was asked what happens if the $86 million dollar referendum – and ten mill building fund “ask” – is defeated at the ballot box?  Brenner says the district will need to reconcile its budget situation.  “Everybody is going to be competing for scarce resources.  We will go through a process…a painful process…but we just can’t continue to operate the way we are operating and have a balanced budget.”

Brenner says right now there is not a specific back-up plan on the table.  “We are marching towards June 22nd and we want to hear what the entire community has to say about the plan.”

Voters will decide both issues next Tuesday.  Polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Alerus Center.