Bond Referendum 2026

On March 23, 2026, the Bismarck School Board voted to proceed with a bond election requesting the support of the Bismarck community in securing $127 million in funding for needs identified during a comprehensive facilities planning process. 

The planning process was conducted in consultation with professional engineering firms and included the collection of community feedback through multiple surveys and public meetings. 

While BPS spends approximately $5 million annually on building maintenance, aging facilities, combined with rising costs, have led to a significant backlog of deferred maintenance projects across multiple facilities. Many of these needs involve building improvements to provide accessible spaces for students in schools built before modern requirements set by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Additionally, a multitude of programmatic needs were also identified, which are necessary to ensure quality education and equity of learning environments across our school district.

Community Meetings

All community members are invited to attend public forums about the bond referendum. The times are still being finalized and will be updated soon. The dates and locations are as follows:

• Tuesday, April 14: 5:30 - 6:30 PM @ Century High School
• Tuesday, April 21: 6:00 - 7:00 PM @ Bismarck High School
• Thursday, April 23: 6:30 - 7:30 PM @ Simle Middle School

See the slides from our forum presentation here. 

Important Resources

For important information about the 2026 Bond Referendum, please see the following document: 2026 Bond Referendum Summary.

For more information about facility planning at BPS, click here. 

Scope of Work 

When planning for the future of the district, it is helpful to keep in mind the following facts:

• Our Oldest Building - Bismarck High School (92 yrs old)
• Our Newest Building - Silver Ranch Career Academy (<1 yrs old)
• Average School Age - 47 yrs old
• 32 Campuses/Buildings
• Over 3 million square feet of floor space
• Over 2 million square feet of roofs
• ~900,000 square feet of sidewalks and over 3 million square feet of parking lots
• Over 2000 sinks and 1500 toilets
• Over 400 acres of land

The long-range facilities planning process identified necessary projects at 25 different BPS sites. The proposed work addresses needs across four key areas:

Keeping Students Safe and Supported

The project will help ensure all BPS facilities provide safe, secure, and supportive environments that protect students and staff while promoting physical, emotional, and mental well-being.

Modernizing and Improving Efficiency 

The work will address deferred maintenance needs and modernize core building systems to ensure they are functional, reliable, and cost-effective over time. 

Planning Responsibly for Growth

Aligning facilities with enrollment trends, demographic shifts, and community growth to ensure equitable access and responsible use of space.

Enhancing Community Use

The projects will help provide facilities that reflect community values, encourage shared use, and serve as points of pride for students, families, and residents.