WEST FARGO - The West Fargo School Board plans to hire the equivalent of nearly 50 full-time teachers at an estimated cost of more than $2.6 million.
The hires are being made to handle continuing growth in enrollment and to open Liberty Middle School and the first phase of Sheyenne High School.
More staffing requests are expected after the Legislature wraps up and state funding is clear, Human Resources Director Robin Hill and Business Manager Mark Lemer said.
"None of these requests are frivolous or fluff," Superintendent David Flowers said.
The School Board voted 7-0 Monday to begin the hires.
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A school board memo said the positions sought are based on conservative estimates for growth.
The budget implications of rapid growth have board member Dave Olson worried.
"Based on what we're faced with, is there a point where we slow our growth down?" Olson asked Monday, questioning whether continued construction of schools is encouraging developers to build in West Fargo School District.
Lemer said that's not a good solution, as homes are going up even without schools being built.
"I don't think the school district has been the one driving the growth," added board President Kay Kiefer.
"What's the difference?" Karen Nitzkorski asked. The problem hasn't been so much that the district is growing, but that the growth "has been exponential."
Lemer said 360 more students are expected in the district this coming fall.
In fall 2012, the district had 570 more students show up than the previous year, Flowers said. That's more students than in many of the state's school districts, he said.
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The school board is mulling whether the district must build yet another elementary school. It recently approved bids to build an elementary at 3700 54th St. S., Fargo.
