Conversion of Hagan Aquatic Center to School Could Start in August

Williston, ND (KEYZ)  The Williston School District number one has some big plans for the abandoned swimming pool complex across the street from Bakken elementary school. Conversion entails the addition of a second floor, filling in the swimming pools and sectioning off the class and break out rooms. Eventually, Superintendent Dr. Jeffrey Thake hopes it will be the center of his brain child, the Personalized Learning Academy.
"Hopefully down the road we will use that as more of a learning space. Hopefully a grades five through eight innovations academy with some renovations and some careful discussion thought process and planning," says Thake.
And money, the project would cost up to 11.8 million dollars, with funds taken from the building fund and raising through capital campaign to raise. Thake appears cautious and a bit gun shy about the projects, having presided over two failed attempts to raise money and the tax property levy in order to wipe out the over crowding in one fell swoop. But if it must be done piecemeal, so be it.
"I have been so impressed with how we have been able to move the needle with all of our students. The data we have in front of us says we are getting results despite the high (enrollment) numbers. Obviously, we need to alleviate those high numbers but we're till able to get results. Our teachers are super heroes, they are rock stars in the classrooms," says Thake.
The school board would like to break ground on the project by August so that it can be ready by next fall.