new elementary school

2024 Bond to Build a New Elementary School

Thank you for investing in Williston's Future!

In April 2024, voters approved a $35 million bond to partially finance the construction of a new elementary school for Williston Basin School District #7. With an impressive 66% approval rate, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to the community for your unwavering support!

The estimated total project cost of the new elementary school is $55 million, with the district contributing $20 million (36%) from District Building Funds.

Budget Update:
At the February 3, 2025, board meeting, the WBSD7 School Board approved reducing the Sloulin Elementary School Project budget from $55 million to $50,575,741, a difference of approximately $4.4 million. This reduction is due to several costs coming in under the original estimates while ensuring the project remains well-funded and on track.

MONTHLY PROJECT UPDATES

May 2025 Update

https://5il.co/3fabz

LIVE JOBSITE FOOTAGE

Live Jobsite Footage
Sloulin Elementary School Construction

Watch real-time progress on Sloulin Elementary School, courtesy of JE Dunn Construction and Senser Systems. See the construction in action—any time of day!

HOW TO PRONOUNCE "SLOULIN"

How Do You Prounounce “Sloulin”?
Watch this short video to learn how to pronounce Sloulin — /ˈslō/ˈlin/ — from Koreen Sloulin, niece of Kermit and Wesley Sloulin.

Koreen also shares the unique Norwegian origin of the name, rooted in the name of a farm in Norway connected to their family heritage.

Sloulin Elementary School, set to open in 2026, will be built on the historic site of Sloulin Field International Airport, which served the Williston area from 1947 until it officially closed to the public on October 10, 2019, following the construction of Williston Basin International Airport.

The original airport was named in honor of Wesley and Kermit Sloulin, brothers, Williston High School graduates, and World War II heroes who died in the line of duty. Both were awarded the Purple Heart for bravery, and Wesley was the first pilot from North Dakota to receive the Distinguished Flying Cross for his leadership, calmness, and courage that brought his aircraft and crew to safety in a perilous moment.

Thanks to the 2024 Bond Project and the support of our community, the Sloulin name will continue to represent service, sacrifice, and a bright future for generations of students.

PRINCIPAL NAMED

New Elementary School Principal Name, Colors & Mascot

3.17.25 Introducing Our Sloulin Elementary School Principal, Susan Prady!

Williston Basin School District #7 is pleased to announce that Ms. Susan Prady has been selected as the principal of Sloulin Elementary School, opening in the fall of 2026. Ms. Prady was chosen through a rigorous selection process led by a hiring committee of teachers, administration, and HR.

NAME, MASCOT & COLORS CHOSEN

New Elementary School Name, Colors & Mascot

Thank you to everyone who participated in the school naming process! After gathering community input and reviewing the top choices, the School Board has approved the community's Top 3 selections:

Name: Sloulin Elementary School
Colors: Black and Gold
Mascot: Aviators

The exact shade of gold and the final mascot design will be decided through a process involving more student and community feedback—stay tuned for details!

For more information about the school naming process and to view the full list of submissions and top 3 rating results, visit our School Naming webpage.

GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY

Groundbreaking Ceremony - October 4, 2024

Groundbreaking Ceremony for New Elementary School
The Williston Basin School District #7 extends its heartfelt thanks to everyone who joined us in celebrating the groundbreaking of our new elementary school on Friday, October 4, 2024.

Overview, Video & Photo Gallery

PROJECT INFORMATION
Architectural Design & Construction Management

  • Architect: JLG Architects

  • Construction Manager at Risk: JE Dunn Construction

PROJECT SUMMARY

Fall 2024 Update

New Elementary School

PROJECT SUMMARY - FALL 2024

Location: 1316 33rd St W Williston, ND 58801 in Williston Square

Building Features:

  • PreK through Grade 5

  • Special Education Suite

  • Gymnasiums

  • STEAM Lab

  • Kitchen & Cafeteria

  • Administrative Offices

  • Media Center

  • Music Rooms

Architectural Design: JLG Architects

Construction Management: JE DUNN

Project Estimated Cost: $53.9 million

Project Budget: $55 million

Key Players in the Decision-Making Process:

  • Leadership Group: District Administrators and Construction Professionals

  • Steering Committee: Program Leaders & Community Representative

  • User Groups: Representing key programs in the new school

Timeline

New elementary school opening Fall of 2026!

Plan

Sloulin Elementary School Construction

The plan is to build one new elementary school. This plan will increase elementary capacity by up to 600 students and allow the District to bring 5th grade back into elementary schools from Williston Middle School Central Campus. Additionally, this solution will accommodate elementary facilities to operate at or below the goal of 25 students per classroom and start to reduce reliance on non-permanent modular classrooms, although not remove them until a second elementary project is approved.

News / Notices

Bond Referendum
For information on the 2024 School Bond Referendum, visit our Bond Referendum Webpage