Kristi Reinke, Minot

Thank you to the Minot Public School District board for moving forward with the proposed bond referendum. As a teacher, I know the importance of having proper learning spaces for our students.

Currently, the middle school I teach at has 14 classrooms utilizing portable, makeshift spaces. This isn’t acceptable and we need to do something to bring the students and staff back into our main school buildings for their health and safety. Building a second high school would allow Central Campus to be used as a middle school to alleviate this overcrowding.

As a parent, I want my kids and all students in the district to experience high school in a comprehensive 9-12 grade school and have more opportunities. We are the largest high school in the state and the only one that splits up grades 9-10 and 11-12. With our current configuration our students must transition through two high school campuses. A second high school would allow students to remain on the same campus for all four years of high school, which research suggests improves academic performance. Building relationships with the same principals, counselors, teachers and staff is also very important for our students and a second high school would provide opportunity to make more long lasting connections. We need to do what is right for our teachers and students and move forward with support for the proposed bond referendum.

I am excited to see a second question on the ballot to address equity at the schools with the addition of a 50-meter competition pool and an athletic complex at the new proposed high school. As a family member of Minot’s successful swim community, this could be a game changer for supporting our strong swim program and bring opportunities to host meets and bring people to our city. This would also be an opportunity for our city to bring in more track meets, more soccer games, more football games as well as give many more students the ability to participate in activities.

I hope the community sees the great opportunities this can bring to our school district and the community and will get behind what’s best for the education of our kids.