Dalrymple Celebrates Opening of New Erik Ramstad Middle School in Minot

Press Release

Gov. Jack Dalrymple was in Minot today to tour the new Erik Ramstad Middle School and attend an open house marking the official opening of the new school, which was damaged during the flooding of the Mouse River in June 2011. The nearly $37 million project includes the relocation of the school and an expanded facility to accommodate future enrollment growth. The new school opened to students in December of last year.

The project was completed with funding from federal, state and local sources, with the state providing nearly $6 million through Flood Impact Grants and funding from the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services (NDDES). About $4 million in Flood Impact Grants was provided to assist the district with relocation costs, including land purchase and site development. NDDES provided nearly $2 million to cover the state's share of the funding. Ninety percent of the cost for rebuilding the school with the original square footage will be paid by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

"It is wonderful to be here today to celebrate the official opening of the new Ramstad Middle School and to see firsthand the outstanding work that has been completed to rebuild this school and help the community move forward after the flood of 2011," said Dalrymple. "Minot has made impressive progress in rebuilding following the flood, and the Ramstad School is a pivotal part of those efforts."

The new building is approximately 126,000 square feet, about 25,000 square feet larger than the original facility. The Minot Public School District decided to expand the size of the school to accommodate future enrollment growth. Ramstad's current enrollment is 565 students, with a capacity to accommodate 720 students. Over the past six years, the district has seen an increase in student enrollment of more than 1,100 students.

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