VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – The Valley City Public School District conducted a community survey last month to find out which direction the public wanted the school district to pursue following their “Exploring the Future of School Facilities” presentation.

The survey wanted community feedback on whether the district should build a new structure or renovate existing buildings.

School Board Member Darin Anderson said questions about what the school district plans to do with empty buildings, if they move forward building a new structure still need to be answered.

Anderson believes the school board shouldn’t move forward with a referendum until these questions are answered.

Dan Miller of JLG Architects told the board, that the community needs to know what you are doing to pursue the most cost-effective option and why.

Rob DeMeuse of School Perceptions, the firm hired by the school district to conduct the survey, told the school board last week that he doesn’t believes there’s enough support, at this time, for a referendum to pass with the current options on the table.

Superintendent Josh Johnson said staff members and parents of students overwhelming supported moving forward with a referendum. But Johnson said according to the School Perceptions survey, those 56 and older, who are not staff members or parents of students are opposed to a referendum.

Johnson said anyone who wants to provide additional input or comment about the school districts proposed plans or options concerning their facilities should call the district office at 701-845-0483 or email Superintendent Josh Johnson at josh.johnson@k12.nd.us

The school board will discuss the survey and options during their next meeting set for Wednesday, December 15th at 5:30pm in the school district board meeting room.

Additional comments from school board member Darin Anderson were recorded during the November 15th school board meeting in Valley City.

And additional comments from Dan Miller of JLG Architects are attached below.