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The Minot School Board agreed to market three properties at its meeting Tuesday, Nov. 10.
The former Jefferson school in southeast Minot will go on the auction block, while the board will be advertising for sealed bids on a residential lot near Magic City Campus and development property south of Erik Ramstad Middle School.
The board approved a listing agreement with Northern Auction that runs through February 2027 or until a sale closes. The Jefferson auction is proposed for Jan. 13 and any sale potentially could be approved at the board's Jan. 14 meeting. Two open houses are planned and private viewings will be available for prospective buyers.
The building was built in 1959. An early childhood education center operated for a number of years in the building after the elementary school closed in 2004. Most recently, the vacant building has served as a storage facility. According to district information, the property has received minimal updates in recent years and would likely require a new heating system to be usable. Appraisers also found the flooring to be at the end of its physical life in several areas.
Board President Scott Louser said the sale of Jefferson may not generate the interest the Bell school property did prior to its sale in February.
"But we're anticipating interest in Jefferson. I think, in the timeline that we can get this done, and working with the auctioneer, we're going to have a successful sale," he said.
The original intent of the vacant residential lot at 1801 Aspen Circle was for house construction by Minot High School trades classes.
"We haven't been able to build a house for a number of years, and probably the access to subcontractors and such has just made it very, very difficult for our instructor and students to be able to complete something like that in a timely fashion," Superintendent Scott Faul said. "Recently, we've gone to building on site at Minot High."
This year, the Career and Technical Education construction technology students are building cabins on site and are working on community-based projects, he said.
The Idlewild land located on 12th and 13th Street Northwest near Ramstad consists of 52 platted residential lots on about 9.59 acres. Lots fronting 13th Street have some infrastructure in place, according to information provided to the board by the appraisal firm. The "as is" appraised value is $680,000.
The land is a portion of the property owned by the school district in that area.
The board also reviewed the fall enrollment numbers from September, which showed 7,366 students, including 92 pre-kindergarten students. Faul said pre-kindergarten numbers are expected to grow as more children reach eligibility age and become enrolled. Pre-K numbers aren't factored into per pupil payments from the state.
Districtwide, class sizes ranged from 528 in first grade to 592 in fourth grade.
Elementary school enrollments were: Bel Air, 248; Dakota at Minot Air Force Base, 222; Edison, 444; John Hoeven, 460; Lewis and Clark, 418; Longfellow, 424; North Plains at Minot AFB, 201; Perkett, 352; Roosevelt, 159; Sunnyside, 263; and Washington, 310. Total elementary enrollment was 3,503 students, including two virtual academy students.
Middle school enrollments were: Central, 486; Erik Ramstad, 560; Jim Hill, 442; and Memorial at Minot AFB, 162. Total enrollment was 1,664, including virtual academy.
Minot High School showed 1,056 students and Minot North High School had 997. The total enrolled in high school in the district was 2,199, including students in virtual academy and McKinley High Alternative Learning Center.