A water main break canceled school Monday at Mandan Junior High.

The water was back on by 10 a.m. Now the district will need to make up the lost time.

The Mandan School Board considered its options at the board's regular committee meetings Monday.

The administration proposed holding school on Easter Monday, April 9. It is a scheduled day off, but also a storm makeup day.

"There are people who have plans … even staff," Superintendent Wilfred Volesky said.

Instead, he suggested making up the time by adding a half-hour to the school day for 12 days. It would mean adding a half-hour to the beginning and end of the school day, and rearranging buses to drop off students at the junior high first, so they are there on time. Pick-up times for the bus shouldn't be affected, he said.

The board members liked the idea of lengthening the school day instead of taking away a vacation day. The administration will make a final decision next week and present it to the Department of Public Instruction for final approval.

Board members also considered a proposal from Mitzel Builders for a detention pond on district property. The developer wants to build a regional detention pond on part of 26 acres owned by the school district in north Mandan. Mitzel's development is 13 acres. The district wants a written proposal from Mitzel by its next meeting on March 19.

(Reach reporter Sara Kincaid at 250-8251 or sara.kincaid@;bismarcktribune.com.)