Williston Basin School District 7 releases draft elementary boundary maps for 2026–27

Williston Basin School District 7 has circulated draft elementary-school boundary maps intended to take effect in the 2026–27 school year, district materials and a public discussion said.

Speaker 1, host, said “they're working on new boundaries to go into effect in the 2026, 2027 school year.” The district and its consultant, RSP and Associates, describe the maps as drafts subject to change and say they will revise the plans after collecting community feedback, including a survey posted on the district website.

The revision referenced on the district website is labeled January 2025. The district held public meetings at multiple locations in August, October and January to present draft maps and gather input, according to the discussion. RSP and Associates is listed on the district materials as the firm running the boundary-setting process.

Public feedback and data analysis are central to the revision, the district’s materials say. The discussion identified three recurring themes from community responses: use of natural boundaries (such as major roads or geographic features) to keep neighborhoods intact; adjusting assignments to improve proximity so students attend schools closer to home; and designing boundaries with longevity in mind to accommodate projected growth and avoid frequent redraws.

District objectives cited in the materials include balancing enrollment across elementary schools, promoting demographic balance, and aligning student assignments with academic and programmatic needs. The draft maps also account for the planned opening of a new elementary school, which the district says is a factor in redrawing assignments.

Speakers emphasized that boundary setting combines quantitative inputs—census data, enrollment projections and traffic patterns—with qualitative feedback from families. The district survey asks respondents to identify concerns and preferences beyond a simple yes/no on the map, the materials say.

No formal vote or final adoption date was recorded in the discussion provided. The draft maps remain subject to change as the district incorporates community responses before any final action.

For residents, the district materials direct people to the Williston Basin School District 7 website to view proposed maps and complete the survey; the district also encouraged attendance at future public meetings to comment on revisions.