Williston Basin School District #7

𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺🥪🍎 Williston Basin School District #7 proudly participates in the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), also known as the Summer Meals Program. Mid-day meals are served Monday through Friday at four locations in Williston, free for children aged 18 and under and available for adults over 18 at a fee of $5. Visit our SUMMER FOOD SERVICES webpage for more information, including schedule & locations. willistonschools.org/page/summer-food-services

Regular School Board Meeting Tuesday, May 28 5:30 PM Williams County Commission Room 206 E Broadway View Agenda & Attachments: https://meeting.sparqdata.com/Public/Organization/2185 ​ Livestreamed on YouTube: ​youtube.com/@WillistonBasinSchoolDistrict7/streams WillistonSchools.org

School Board Governance Committee Meeting Tuesday, May 28 12:15 PM District Office 1201 9th Ave NW View Agenda & Attachments: https://meeting.sparqdata.com/Public/Organization/2185 ​ Livestreamed on YouTube: ​youtube.com/@WillistonBasinSchoolDistrict7/streams WillistonSchools.org

Special School Board Meeting Monday, May 20 12:15 PM District Office 1201 9th Ave NW View Agenda & Attachments: https://meeting.sparqdata.com/Public/Organization/2185 ​ Livestreamed on YouTube: ​youtube.com/@WillistonBasinSchoolDistrict7/streams WillistonSchools.org

Kindergarten Enrollment Reminder! 📚✏️ If you haven't already enrolled your child for the 2024-2025 school year, now's the time to do so! Children must be 5 years old by July 31, 2024, to enroll in kindergarten. Kindergarteners will be assigned to elementary schools by June 15th. WillistonSchools.org/page/enrollment #wbsd7 #KindergartenEnrollment

Introducing Mr. Reo Boston as the incoming principal of Wilkinson Elementary for the 2024-2025 school year! With over a decade of experience in education, Mr. Boston currently serves as an instructional coach at Williston Middle School Central Campus. Throughout his career, he has taught various subjects including 8th grade US History, 7th Grade ELA, and 6th grade. Mr. Boston holds a Bachelor's Degree in Education from Minot State University and a Master's Degree from WGU in Learning & Technology. He is married with two children who attend WBSD7, and his wife is a 2nd grade teacher at Lewis & Clark Elementary. Mr. Boston coaches cross-country and is an avid runner, participating in various distances, including 100-mile races. He also has a passion for music and has been playing in a rock band since his teenage years. Additionally, he enjoys exploring the wilderness through hunting and hiking. Mr. Boston is thrilled for this opportunity to serve as the new principal of Wilkinson Elementary and looks forward to making a positive impact on the school community! WillistonSchools.org #wbsd7

Regular School Board Meeting Monday, May 13 5:30 PM John Kautzman Chamber Room at City Hall 22 E Broadway View Agenda & Attachments: https://meeting.sparqdata.com/Public/Organization/2185 Livestream: youtube.com/@WillistonBasinSchoolDistrict7/streams WillistonSchools.org #wbsd7

🤩 LAST DAY OF SCHOOL Thursday, May 23 11:00 AM Dismissal Re-Enrollment for 2024/2025 Deadline: 5/24/24 Re-Enrollment Flyer: https://5il.co/2g69h Re-Enroll: WillistonSchools.org/page/enrollment #wbsd7 #lastdayofschool

Today marks the beginning of Absentee Voting for the June 11, 2024 school board election. To access candidate information (including candidate responses to the School Board Application Form), absentee voting details, and more related to the election, please visit willistonschools.org/page/school-board-election

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗖𝗧𝗘 𝗗𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 - 𝗠𝗿𝘀. 𝗞𝗲𝗻𝘇𝗶 𝗕𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗻! With great excitement, WBSD7 Administration proudly announces Mrs. Kenzi Brown as our new CTE Director! We know she's going to be fantastic in this role. 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗠𝗿𝘀. 𝗕𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗻: "My name is Kenzi Brown, WBSD#7 Business Education Teacher & PreK Director. This is my 6th year teaching for the school district, and I've had the honor of coaching volleyball, basketball, and serving on various school and community committees. I played basketball and volleyball at the University of Colorado - Colorado Springs, where I received my bachelor's in business administration and master's in education administration. My husband, Matt Brown, and I moved to Williston in 2017 and quickly fell in love with the community and welcoming environment. We opened Coyote Pups Learning Den four years ago when we knew we wanted to start our family here and offer an educational environment from birth to school age. With the help of two wonderful directors and an amazing team of teachers, I am thankful I can continue in WBSD#7 and send my own two kiddos to Coyote Pups each day! I am passionate about bettering public education for all students and am honored to take on the role of CTE Director for Williston Basin School District. I look forward to connecting students with industry partners in our community, supporting our incredible CTE teachers, and expanding our programs within our new Williston Basin CTE Center opening in the Fall. I am confident that we will continue to equip our students with the innovation, creativity, and skill development tools needed to succeed after high school. I am humbled by the opportunity to serve as the new CTE Director and look forward to the future of WBSD#7. Thank you to our district staff and community members who work hard each day to ensure our students receive the education they deserve; together, we will continue to provide high-quality public education for our community". 𝗣𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝘂𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗿𝘀. 𝗕𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲! Sincerely, WBSD7 Administration WillistonSchools.org

WBSD7 SCHOOL BOND REFERENDUM OFFICIALLY PASSED The Williston Basin School District #7 is pleased to announce the successful passage of the school bond referendum, as indicated by the official tally from the election held on April 17th, 2024. With 65.9% "yes" votes, the bond's official approval surpassed the necessary 60% supermajority. The official vote count is as follows: 𝗬𝗲𝘀: 2,386 𝗡𝗼: 1,233 𝗧𝗼𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗩𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀: 3,619 The canvassing of the election to verify and finalize the official results took place Tuesday, April 30th at 5:00 PM in the District Office board room. The $35 million bond aims to provide funding for the construction, equipping and purchase of land for one new elementary school. The chosen site for the new elementary school is in Williston Square. The estimated total project cost is $55 million, with the district contributing $20 million (36%) from District Building Funds. For a detailed breakdown of results by voting location and absentee votes and for more information about the bond, please visit our bond webpage on the Williston Basin School District #7 website. willistonschools.org/page/2024bond Thank you to everyone who participated in the voting process and contributed to this significant milestone for our district. Best Regards, Williston Basin School District #7 #wbsd7 #2024bond

🌟 Happy Principal Appreciation Day! 🌟 Today, we extend our deepest gratitude to the incredible principals who lead with passion, dedication, and unwavering commitment across Williston Basin School District #7. Your leadership plays a pivotal role in shaping our school communities, fostering excellence, and supporting the growth and success of our students and staff. 🤩 Join us in celebrating our outstanding principals and thanking them for their tireless efforts and dedication to our shared mission. Let's show them the appreciation they truly deserve! 🍎✏️ WillistonSchools.org #PrincipalAppreciationDay #ThankYouPrincipals #WBSD7

CMAR Selection Committee Meeting Tuesday, April 30 9:45 AM District Office 1201 9th Ave NW AGENDA 1. Conduct Interviews and Scoring for CMAR RFQ selection process for the bond referendum elementary school construction project. 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝟭: 8:30 - 9:30 AM (contractor declined interview) 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝟮: 9:45 - 10:45 AM (contractor confirmed interview attendance) 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝟯: 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM (contractor declined interview) 𝗦𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴: 10:45 AM until completed (originally scheduled for 12:00 PM) - Scoring will take place immediately following "Interview 2," as the contractor for Interview 3 declined the interview. View Agenda & Attachments: https://meeting.sparqdata.com/Public/Organization/2185 ​ Livestreamed on YouTube: ​youtube.com/@WillistonBasinSchoolDistrict7/streams WillistonSchools.org

Special School Board Meeting Tuesday, April 30 5:00 PM District Office 1201 9th Ave NW Topic: Canvass election results from the April 17, 2024 School Bond Referendum Election View Agenda & Attachments: https://meeting.sparqdata.com/Public/Organization/2185 ​ Livestreamed on YouTube: ​youtube.com/@WillistonBasinSchoolDistrict7/streams WillistonSchools.org

We would like to spotlight two summer food services programs available for Summer 2024: 🍎 Summer Meals Program 🍎 Summer EBT Program (New!) 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺: Williston Basin School District #7 proudly participates in the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), also known as the Summer Meals Program. This initiative ensures that children continue to receive nutritious meals when school is not in session, particularly in low-income areas. Throughout North Dakota, schools and non-profit organizations have the opportunity to provide free meals to kids and teens. The USDA is committed to utilizing all available program flexibilities and contingencies to serve program participants effectively. For more detailed information on the program, please refer to the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction. nd.gov/dpi/districtsschools/child-nutrition-and-food-distribution/summer-food-service-program Mid-day meals are served Monday through Friday at four locations in Williston, free for children aged 18 and under and available for adults over 18 at a fee of $5. Under the Summer Food Service Program, schools and non-profit organizations offering non-congregate meals have the option of providing meals through home delivery or parent pick up. However, the WBSD7 program does not offer home delivery. Written consent from a child’s parent or guardian is required for meal pick up on the child’s behalf to maintain accountability, program integrity, and household confidentiality. Parents or guardians wishing to pick up meals for their child(ren) without the children present must complete an "SFSP PARENT CONSENT FORM," which is kept on-site. This form only needs to be completed once for each location. A guardian is defined as a legal guardian or someone with a caregiver relationship with the child. Adults principally responsible for the child's care on the meal day, such as grandparents or other caregivers, are considered suitable guardians for meal collection. Please note: Childcare providers responsible for whole groups of unrelated children are not considered guardians and cannot collect program meals on behalf of parents or guardians for children under their care. 𝗦𝗙𝗦𝗣 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗺: https://5il.co/2j8ti 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 𝗙𝗹𝘆𝗲𝗿: https://5il.co/2jhn3 𝗪𝗕𝗦𝗗𝟳 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗪𝗲𝗯𝗽𝗮𝗴𝗲: willistonschools.org/page/summer-food-services 🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗘𝗕𝗧 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 In summer 2024, North Dakota will launch Summer EBT (SEBT) a new grocery benefits program that provides families $120 for each eligible school-aged child to buy groceries when school is out. Summer is a time when many children lose the free and reduced-price meals they get at school and when households might need a little extra help putting meals on the table. Most families will get these benefits automatically, but some parents will need to apply. The new program is in addition to free meals that kids of all ages can get at summer meal sites in their communities. On Monday, April 15, 2024, parents, or guardians of eligible students began receiving emails from the State of ND Health & Human Services EBT program that provide information about the student's eligibility, how to update address information, or how to opt out of the program if they choose. Parents or guardians may contact the state EBT office if they don’t get an email and want to know if they will receive benefits and/or update their address information. 𝗦𝗘𝗕𝗧 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝗮𝗱𝗱𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀: NDSEBT@nd.gov 𝗦𝗘𝗕𝗧 𝗪𝗲𝗯 𝗦𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀: NDSummerEBT.nd.gov 𝗦𝗘𝗕𝗧 𝗙𝗹𝘆𝗲𝗿: https://www.nd.gov/dpi/sites/www/files/documents/ChildNutrition/SEBT/sebt-factsheet-families.pdf

Announcing Mr. Eric Rooke as the new WBSD7 Director of Maintenance! We are thrilled to welcome him to this pivotal role within the district, knowing his proven leadership and exceptional performance will drive excellence. Mr. Rooke has been an integral part of the Williston educational community since 2005, showcasing nearly two decades of dedication and innovation. As a teacher at Williston High School for 19 years, Mr. Rooke's commitment to education has been outstanding. He led the WHS Band for 17 years and has since imparted his expertise in music and theater electives. Additionally, Mr. Rooke's recent stint as interim Assistant High School Principal underscores his versatility and leadership prowess. Beyond the classroom, Mr. Rooke has made significant contributions as the director of the school's extracurricular theater program, achieving national recognition for the drama program's excellence. Under his guidance, Williston High School was honored as one of 25 Premiere Communities for Theater Education by the Educational Theater Association, a testament to Mr. Rooke's dedication and vision. Mr. Rooke's leadership extends beyond education, as evidenced by his role as President of the Williston Education Association, where he fostered collaboration and professional growth among staff members across all school levels. Mr. Rooke impact transcends traditional education settings; his tenure as Theater Manager for the WHS Theater saw him spearheading a fundraising campaign and overseeing a substantial $250,000 renovation of the Williston High School Auditorium, now WMSCC Auditorium, where he also served as the general construction manager. Moreover, his experience as a private contractor in the Williston community has further enriched his skill set. With a reputation for effective communication, strategic planning, and meticulous organization, Mr. Rooke is poised to lead the district maintenance department with vision and purpose. He is eager to leverage his diverse background and extensive experience to propel the maintenance department towards greater heights. We are excited to embark on this journey with Mr. Rooke at the helm of our maintenance department, and we are confident in his ability to lead with excellence. Best regards, WBSD7 Administration WillistonSchools.org

WBSD7 Community, We want to update you on the CMAR (Construction Manager at Risk) selection process for the bond referendum elementary school construction project. As previously communicated, we are providing each of the CMAR RFQ bidders with another opportunity to interview. Dr. Faidley's decision to do so is due to the unexpected absence of one of our selection committee members during the initial interviews, coupled with a technical issue that resulted in only one out of three interviews being successfully recorded. Based on this technical issue, this committee member was unable to review the recordings. While the opportunity for a re-interview is available to all bidders, please note that bidder participation is at their discretion. In the event a company chooses not to participate in the presentation/interview, the written proposals will be scored as per the established rubric. We invite the public to attend and observe the interviews, although participation will be limited to the bidders and selection committee members. Below, you will find the schedule and WBSD7 YouTube Livestream Link for the interviews to be conducted the morning of Tuesday, April 30, 2024. 𝗧𝗨𝗘𝗦𝗗𝗔𝗬, 𝗔𝗣𝗥𝗜𝗟 𝟯𝟬 Interview 1: 8:30 – 9:30 Interview 2: 9:45 – 10:45 Interview 3: 11:00 – 12:00 Scoring: 12:00 until completed youtube.com/@WillistonBasinSchoolDistrict7/streams For further details regarding the project and CMAR requirements, along with the CMAR press releases dated April 18th and April 19th, 2024, please visit our website at willistonschools.org/page/rfq. Requests have been received for the scoring rubrics, video recordings, and other materials reviewed thus far. The CMAR selection record will be marked "complete" upon the board's approval of a CMAR. Following this approval, these records will be made publicly accessible. A webpage dedicated to providing comprehensive information and updates about the construction of the new elementary school is currently being developed. It is anticipated to be launched by the end of next week. WBSD7 Administration WillistonSchools.org

Dear WBSD7 Community, We are delighted to announce that Ms. Amanda Palmer has been appointed as the new Assistant Principal of Williston High School. Ms. Palmer brings a wealth of educational experience and a passion for student success to the role. Having joined Williston High School as a teacher in the 2023/2024 school year, Ms. Palmer immediately felt embraced by the WHS staff and inspired by their dedication to student learning and well-being. This warm reception affirmed Ms. Palmer's belief that WHS was the ideal environment for professional growth and contribution. Ms. Palmer’s journey in education encompasses diverse roles and settings. Prior to transitioning into teaching, Ms. Palmer served as a Site Coordinator for 21st Century Community Learning Centers and later as the Director of Education at Sylvan Learning Centers. Ms. Palmer embarked on teaching as an English/English as a Second Language educator at a middle school in Houston, Texas, before furthering their teaching career as an online instructor for Connections Academy in Washington state. Notably, Ms. Palmer also taught high school English at Magic City Campus and Souris River Alternative High School in Minot, ND. The decision to transition from the classroom to an administrative position was a carefully considered one for Ms. Palmer, driven by a desire to extend support to teachers and staff in fostering positive impacts on the lives of WHS students. Ms. Palmer eagerly anticipates collaborating with the exceptional team of educators, staff, students, families, and community members at WHS, with a shared commitment to nurturing a thriving learning environment for all. We are thrilled to welcome Ms. Palmer into this leadership role, and we have every confidence that she will excel and make a significant impact. Best regards, WBSD7 Administration WillistonSchools.org

Dear Community Members, We are writing to inform you that Williston Basin School District #7 is retracting the announcement made on April 18, 2024, regarding the unofficial selection for the Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) for the new elementary school construction process. This decision comes as a result of a technical issue arising from century code requirements. Regrettably, two out of the three interview recordings did not function properly. Consequently, the contractor committee member, who was unable to attend the interviews in person, was unable to review all three recordings as intended to ensure his full participation in the selection process. In light of these circumstances, Dr. Faidley has determined it necessary to reconduct the interviews. We are committed to ensuring fairness and transparency throughout this process. Therefore, we will be offering both in-person and virtual options to companies who submitted proposals. Recognizing the community's keen interest in this matter, we will provide advance access to the interview links to the public. This will enable everyone to observe the interview process. Scoring information will be posted upon the next CMAR announcement. Additionally, while the original RFQ included committee member titles, it did not specify their names. The RFQ was subsequently updated to include committee member names, as well as titles, on April 19, 2024. We apologize for any inconvenience caused by this situation and appreciate your understanding as we work to uphold the integrity of our procedures. Thank you for your continued support and involvement in the Williston Basin School District #7. For more information about the project and CMAR requirements, please visit willistonschools.org/page/rfq Sincerely, WBSD7 Administration

Regular School Board Meeting Monday, April 22 5:30 PM Williams County Commissioner Room 206 E Broadway View Agenda & Attachments: https://meeting.sparqdata.com/Public/Organization/2185 Livestream: youtube.com/@WillistonBasinSchoolDistrict7/streams WillistonSchools.org