(On Sunday, the Tribune publishes its Progress 2009 edition. The edition looks at Bismarck-Mandan's progress from a frontier community until today. The edition contains stories and essays. The essay below provides a preview of Sunday's edition.)

As the Bismarck Public School District looks into the future, access to computers and the Internet will be even more important, and we will be looking for land to build new facilities.

You may be surprised to learn that the Bismarck school district is the largest in the state and growing. The Department of Public Instruction lists our enrollment at just more than 10,900 students in pre-K to grade 12. Over the past five years, our growth has been steady but manageable.

But space needs aren't our only challenge. We are spending more time and money to help students reach their potential under the No Child Left Behind Act so they are all proficient by 2014. Some of our initiatives to improve student achievement are as follows:

n Online homework help.

n Stricter attendance policies.

n Improved academic testing to guide instructional planning.

n Before-school and after-school tutoring programs.

n Increased course requirements for graduation.

As we look into the future, computers and the Internet will be even more necessary for students to access course content, school announcements, homework help and online classes. Already, in some advanced high school courses, students have threaded online discussions. Course content likely will be delivered online through subscription services in addition to textbooks. Already, teachers use a video streaming service for film clips focused on the learning objective, rather than use class time to watch a whole film.

On the construction side of things, bids were recently opened to build a new elementary school just east of the KOA Campground. The new school will decrease the enrollments of Murphy and Northridge, which are both 200 students over capacity. Bids were opened in February for a new career and technical center on the Bismarck State College campus to replace space currently being leased from BSC.

Other building projects are being considered. Wachter Middle School needs its auditorium, kitchen, dining area and older gym remodeled, in addition to several new classrooms.

Myhre Elementary School desperately needs remodeling or replacement. The shell is sound, but the interior is poorly designed for learning.

Bismarck High School has no auditorium suitable for performing arts, such as music and drama.

This month, the school board is meeting with the city of Bismarck planning department to review property that could be suitable for a new high school. The board wants to make sure that the school district owns property when the time comes for a third high school.

Before we build another elementary school or high school, the community will have to decide what to do with the sixth and ninth grades. Middle schools in the Bismarck School District are made up of grades seven through nine. Middle schools typically consist of grades six through eight. If the choice is made to move grade six up to middle school, the priority might shift from building new elementary schools to an additional high school. District high schools would then be made up of grades nine through 12.

We are fortunate to live in a growing community and school district where the future is exciting. If you have questions or concerns about any of our efforts, please call me at 323-4054.

(Paul Johnson is the superintendent of Bismarck Public Schools.)