DPS studies new school need

Talk about it

Dickinson school officials are considering building an elementary school to keep up with increasing enrollment.

Dickinson Public Schools submitted an Oil and Gas Impact Grant application for $747,500 this week for the possible construction of an elementary school.

“We are not saying that we are for sure going to build a new elementary school,” Superintendent Doug Sullivan said. “Building a new elementary school is one of many options to be considered by the School Board and community when discussing ways to best handle the increase in enrollment we are experiencing,”

At a School Board meeting Monday night, Sullivan and Assistant Superintendent Vince Reep presented a report on how the number of students enrolled in kindergarten through sixth grade has increased over the last 10 years.

“In the past two years alone, the enrollment of our K through six student population has increased by 19 percent or 230 students,” Reep said.

That increase is equal to the number of students it would take to nearly fill one elementary school, according to the district’s fall enrollment report.

Reep said there are and will be many options to explore.

“We could look at reorganizing the district, we could look at building a super school that would hold all the students in kindergarten through grade 12 — building another school is just another one of many options we are exploring,” Reep said.

Sullivan said he hopes that the community becomes actively engaged in discussions.

“We really want to find out what the community wants and hear what they have to say,” Sullivan said.

In other public school news:

School Board members reviewed the spring superintendent evaluation at a meeting Monday night and say things are looking good.

All five evaluations came back satisfactory said School Board President Kris Fehr.

Superintendent Doug Sullivan was evaluated in three areas: relationship with students and parents, financial management skills and recruitment and retention of staff.

School Board members say they are impressed with Sullivan’s newsletters and column in The Dickinson Press. They also applauded his approachability, attendance at student activities/gatherings and knowledge of the students and their families.

When it comes to financial matters, School Board members say Sullivan is conservatively wise with the district finances and there is never a financial issue that is undisclosed, adding that all records and transactions can be viewed on the district website.

School Board members also say that the district does not have a lot of turnover which could indicate satisfaction with the leadership and direction.

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