In anticipation of the closing, an open house at Bell will be held Thursday, April 25, from 3:30-5 p.m., to give the students and staff, both past and present, a chance to share memories and say goodbye to the school.

Secretary Shirley Parizek noted the farewell falls on the same day as the open house held after the building was dedicated in 1965.

“It’s just too ironic. We didn’t plan this. We just picked the date. It’s just one last chance to see this school before they close this place forever.” Parizek said.

A second open house is scheduled immediately after from 5:30-6:30 p.m., for Bell students and their families at John Hoeven Elementary to welcome them to their new school.

Bell Elementary student Samantha Serrato, left, takes a swing while Liam Lockyer looks on during gym class Tuesday morning.

Generations of local families have attended Bell Elementary over the years, including many third and fourth generation students currently attending. An all-school reunion has been scheduled to be held at Bootleggerz on Saturday, May 11, and will include music from local band, The Missing Lynx, of which Bell music teacher Shannon Kupser is a member.

According to “A History of Bell School,” compiled by the late Arlene Saugstad in 1995, Bell School was the result of a consolidation of a three school co-op. The land for the school was donated by the Mostad family and was selected after a survey ordered by the Bell School Board found that it would be unlikely to be affected by any flooding of the Souris River. Parizek said this determination was likely correct as the school was spared any damage from the historic flood in 2011.

The construction of the school was funded by a 10 mill building fund election on March 2, 1958, enabling the initial construction to be completed debt free. Ira Rush Associates were the architects, with general construction provided by Leslie & Benton and Orheim Construction Company. Saugstad stated in the history the school opened with room for 93 students in attendance in 1963, but that further additions to add two classrooms and other spaces were required as the community around the school expanded.

Bell would operate as its own district until 2008 when it was incorporated into the Minot Public School District. The MPS board made the decision earlier this year to close both Bell and McKinley Elementaries as a cost-savings measure to address a districtwide budget deficit, citing declining enrollments in both schools.

Parizek said a majority of the furniture and equipment in the school is earmarked to be transferred to the new Minot North School, but a variety of sentimental items like the school’s bell and a memorial rock dedicated as a memorial to a bus driver are being sought by their surviving family members.