Mandan School Board members further delayed making a decision on a site for a possible new junior high school, saying they needed to negotiate with landowners and talk with city officials.

Residents showed strong support for three sites during Tuesday's public forum and board members said they need to further explore those locations. They include Keidel in southeast Mandan, Lohstreter in northwest Mandan and Terra Vallee in north Mandan. Two board members are working with the property owners of the land to reach a firmer agreement on price.

The board will hold a retreat later this month or in early January to flush out issues and come to a consensus on a location, instead of doing so at the regular board meeting or committee meetings. Board members said retreats provide an avenue to talk more openly about issues in an informal setting absent of pressure from the public.

Retreats are open meetings that residents can attend.

Board members were surprised by the results of a survey conducted by the Building Up Schools for Youth in Mandan group last week. They showed 55 percent support for the Keidel site, 56 percent for Lohstreter and 60 percent for Terra Vallee. Sixty-seven people responded. The only site that residents shot down was Diane's Addition.

Only 6 percent of respondents said they didn't support the push for a new junior high.

"The meeting outcome was a surprise," board member Michele Sondrol said. "People were neck and neck with sites."

The board hopes to make a final decision by the end of January so they can hold a special election this spring. Board members will either call a special meeting or vote at its regular meeting Jan. 18, board member Jan Pratt said.

People were also polled on whether they supported tagging on additional costs to a referendum for senior high and football field renovations. About 88 percent of people said they supported the idea or it wouldn't influence their vote for costs related to the senior high, with the football field gaining 77 percent acceptance.

(Reach reporter Sheena Dooley at 250-8225 or sheenadooley@ndonline.com.)