Special election set in Hope, Page school reorganization

Residents in areas of Barnes, Cass, Griggs and Steele counties will go to the polls tomorrow to decide on a proposed reorganization plan involving two school districts, the Hope School District and Page School District. Polls are open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m.at both schools.

According to the reorganizational plan, both the building in Hope and in Page will be used if the reorganization plan is approved by voters tomorrow. The building in Page would house students in grades PK through sixth, while the building in Hope would house students in grades seven through 12. Outbuildings at each site would be used to support district operations, including transportation, and building and grounds.

The current taxable valuation of the Hope School District is just over 11-point-five million dollars, with a per student valuation of just under 188-thousand dollars. In the Page School District, the taxable valuation is just over nine-point-three million dollars, with a per student valuation of just under 89-thousand dollars. If the reorganization passes, the estimated taxable valuation of the reorganized school district rises to just over 21-point-7 million dollars, with a per student valuation estimate of just over 136-point-one thousand dollars.

The two districts have been operating under a shared powers agreement for 20 years. District officials say, in their plan, that reorganizing the district will "encourage continued growth and innovation by allowing a maximization of resources and subsequent reallocation to the core mission of both districts."