Architectural firms have expressed interest in working with the Minot school district on proposals for a second high school and renovation of other facilities, as well as other future projects, said business manager Scott Moum on Friday.

“This is just big picture stuff until we actually go to the people with the question (of whether they want to support a bond issue),” said Moum.

The district published a request for qualifications last month seeking proposals from the architectural firms. The submissions by the architectural firms are due March 12. The school district will then draw up a short list of candidate firms by March 19. Interviews with the finalists are scheduled for March 22 to 31 and the architectural firm will be selected by April 9.

Moum said architectural firms will likely want to review the district’s master plan from 2013.

The school board discussed the process during a school board meeting on Thursday.

Overcrowding at the middle school and high school levels has long been a concern in the school district, as has the idea of a second high school and another middle school, but voters would have to pass a bond issue to bring those plans to fruition.

Voters had approved a bond issue several years ago that addressed space needs at the elementary level. The bond issue paid for construction of the new John Hoeven Elementary, additions at other elementaries and safety and security improvements at all of the schools.

In June 2020, Cognizant agreed to sell the two buildings and surrounding land at 2000 21st Ave. NW to the school district for the nominal fee of $10. The district has its eye on this site as a potential location for a comprehensive 9-12 high school. Magic City Campus, which currently is attended by 11th and 12th graders, would then be remodeled into a comprehensive 9-12 high school and Minot High School-Central Campus, which is now attended by ninth and 10th graders, would be remodeled into a third in-town middle school for sixth through eighth graders.

Superintendent Mark Vollmer told the board that this process is about more than a second high school. Architects will be asked to develop ideas for other future needs of the district.

The district has other property that could be put to use. In March 2020, the school district acquired 70 acres located south and east of Erik Ramstad Middle School for the nominal fee of $1. The land had been owned by Northern Lights Idlewild, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company. People have expressed interest in possibly purchasing that land, but Vollmer told the board the district should hang on to the land for now. He said it could be used for a number of purposes in the future, including a potential site for the high school’s construction technology class to build houses that might be sold to home buyers.

There is no guarantee of a contract for any architectural firm that is chosen and the plans will not necessarily be completed.