WF school vote planned for March 23

West Fargo voters will go to the polls March 23 to weigh in on whether to build a new elementary and high school.

The School Board unofficially decided this morning to move forward with plans for a referendum after architects confirmed that they can build the two new buildings for $40 million.

That's $25 million less than last June's building referendum that voters shot down at the polls.

"It's a simple plan," Superintendent Dana Diesel Wallace said this morning. "And we hope that it is more palatable to our constituents in terms of the impact it will have on them as taxpayers who fund our building projects."

The board must approve the referendum plan at an upcoming meeting to officially put it on the ballot.

A new high school, which would be adjacent to Sheyenne Ninth Grade Center, was scaled down to accommodate for fewer students as was a new elementary school in south Fargo.

With this plan, Sheyenne Ninth Grade Center becomes a new middle school, but is left physically unchanged to also cut costs.