Ray Public School District has spent the past year studying the long-term needs of the school facility. In late summer and fall of 2025, the district partnered with ICON Architectural Group to evaluate the building and explore possible solutions for aging infrastructure and space limitations.

A community task force made up of staff, parents, community members, and local leaders met several times during the winter of 2025–2026 to review facility conditions, discuss potential improvements, and help shape possible solutions.

The district gathered feedback from the broader community through a survey conducted by School Perceptions, an independent research firm, to help guide the next steps in long-term facility planning.

Ray Public School’s building is nearly 100 years old, and several major components of the facility are reaching the end of their useful life. Many of the building’s mechanical systems date back to the 1950s, and classrooms have only received minor cosmetic updates over time.

In addition, the district is experiencing increasing enrollment pressures tied to regional industry growth, which is placing additional strain on existing learning spaces. Addressing these challenges now allows the district to plan for the future while maintaining a safe and effective learning environment.

Ray Public School formed a Community Task Force made up of staff members, parents, community members, and local leaders. The district also worked with ICON Architectural Group and engineers to evaluate the building’s condition and develop potential facility improvement options.

The district wants to ensure that community members have an opportunity to provide input before any final decisions are made.

The survey allowed residents to:

• Share their perspectives on facility needs

• Review potential improvement options

• Provide feedback on potential funding solutions
  

Survey responses are collected by School Perceptions, an independent research firm, to ensure confidentiality and unbiased reporting.

The Ray Public School building faces several significant challenges, including:

• Aging infrastructure – Mechanical systems in elementary classrooms are nearing or past the end of their service life.

• Outdated classrooms – Many classrooms are small and do not meet current instructional or technology needs.

• Limited cafeteria space – The cafeteria is too small to comfortably accommodate students and community events.

• Limited multi-purpose space – The gyms are heavily scheduled and used nearly all day, limiting flexibility for activities and events.

• Locker rooms and weight room limitations – Some spaces are too small and do not fully meet ADA accessibility standards.

The Community Task Force developed a concept that would build a new elementary school addition to replace aging classrooms and mechanical systems.

The project would:

• Replace outdated 1950s elementary classrooms

• Remove the existing courtyard to improve building layout

• Add seven new classrooms

• Provide space for library, special education, family and consumer science and student support services.

• Improve building safety and energy efficiency

• Consolidate elementary students into a more efficient learning wing.

This approach provides a long-term solution to many of the building’s current challenges.

The district is also asking voters to consider expanding the project to include additional improvements such as:

• A multi-purpose space for physical education, recess, performances, and community events

• New locker rooms designed to better meet student needs and ADA requirements

• A relocated weight room in a more appropriate location. These additional improvements would allow the district to address multiple facility needs while construction crews are already on site.

The proposed projects include two potential questions for voters:

Base Project:

Construction of a new elementary school addition

Estimated Cost: $23 million

Additional Project:

Multipurpose space, locker rooms, and weight room improvements

Estimated Cost: $6 million

Base Project – $23 million

Estimated annual tax increase per $100,000 of property value:

• Residential: $128 per year

• Agricultural / Commercial: $148 per year

Additional Project – $6 million

Estimated annual tax increase per $100,000 of property value:

• Residential: $35 per year

• Agricultural / Commercial: $39 per year 

Yes. If the district moves forward with a bond referendum, voters must approve the measure before the district can borrow funds for the project.

Bond referendums typically require 60% voter approval to pass.

Voting Hours:

8:00 AM – 7:00 PM (Central Time)

Residents of the district may vote at any of the following polling locations:

Primary Voting Location

Ray City Hall

101 Main St

Ray, ND

Additional Voting Locations

Williston ARC

Williams County Fairgrounds

Multi-Purpose Building

Tioga City Hall

Wildrose Fire Hall

Grenora City Hall

Voters may cast their ballot at any of these polling locations regardless of where they live within the district.

Residents are encouraged to contact the Ray Public School District Office for additional information or questions about the facility planning process.