The Bismarck Public Schools (BPS) district is opening the floor this fall for residents, parents and stakeholders to weigh in on upcoming facility planning. With a series of community forums scheduled throughout October in neighborhoods across the city of Bismarck, this initiative aims to give locals a real say in how school buildings evolve.
BPS currently operates 32 campuses and covers roughly 2.8 million square feet across about 410 acres. As enrollment patterns change and aging infrastructure demands attention, the district has worked from a Long-Range Facilities Plan to assess which schools need expansion, renovation or modernization.
This year, the district is relying heavily on community feedback through forums to guide not just technical upgrades, but also priorities about how space is used, how students learn, and how school facilities support the community.
For residents of Bismarck and nearby in Burleigh County, this is more than just school‐building talk. Schools anchor neighborhoods, affect local property values, traffic, and community gathering spaces. A decision on one facility upgrade may ripple into day‐to‐day life: where your kids go to school, what kind of community programs happen in the school gym or library, how safe and modern the space feels.
Moreover, with Bismarck growing and changing, investing in school facilities signals how the city prioritizes education, community infrastructure and long-term growth.
One of the more recent announcements invites the community around Grimsrud Elementary School to join a forum on Thursday, October 23 at 5:30 p.m. for discussion of facility needs.
Earlier in October, the district announced “Fall Community Forums: Addressing Facility Needs” publicly on October 6.
These forums are free, open to the public, and intended to gather ideas, concerns, and priorities from parents, teachers, students and residents alike.
We believe that local voices should guide how our school buildings serve the students and the broader community,” said a district spokesperson for BPS in a recent Facebook post.
Older buildings or those nearing capacity could move ahead first. BPS’s long-range plan flagged middle schools and high schools for potential expansion.
Renovations, expansions, modernization, energy upgrades or new builds? The cost and funding sources will matter for taxpayers.
If you live in Bismarck, your feedback could influence how your local school evolves—whether it becomes more flexible, more modern, more community-friendly.
What steps follow the forums? What decisions will the BPS board make, and when? Residents will want follow-up to ensure forums aren’t just a formality.
The upcoming forums give Bismarck residents a direct line to influence how their schools and neighborhoods grow and change. If you care about safe, modern facilities, neighborhood vitality, and educational investment in our city, this is your opportunity. Make your voice heard—join the conversation, bring your ideas, and help shape the future of Bismarck Public Schools’ facilities.
