Grand Forks facilities committee reviews SLiCE school‑led capital program and five‑year draft plan; minutes approved

The Grand Forks School District facilities committee of the whole on Sept. 22, 2025 approved minutes from its May 27 meeting and heard a presentation on a draft five‑year facilities plan and a new school‑led capital program that would allocate roughly $250,000 a year from the district building fund to site‑directed projects.

The presentation, delivered by staff member Jonathan Elwyd, introduced SLiCE (School‑led Initiatives for Capital Enhancements). Elwyd said the program is intended to “encourage innovation, ownership, and collaboration between schools and our operational staff” and that allocations must “align with our priorities and our standards” and comply with North Dakota Century Code section 57‑15‑17.

The nut graf: SLiCE would let individual school leaders propose small to mid‑range building improvements funded from the building fund — not from the general fund — while the district retains approval and oversight to ensure legal and technical compliance. The committee also reviewed a district capital plan that totals about $8.4 million across 44 projects at 15 schools and flagged a larger potential renovation for Schrader Middle School estimated at $16.5 million.

Elwyd said the SLiCE proposal would allot approximately $250,000 per year to schools and operate on a three‑year rotation so each site has the opportunity to participate. He described eligible uses as building improvements allowed under the building fund statute and said the money cannot be used for furniture, supplies, personnel or…