Comments at the Bismarck School Board's community forum could help the district refine some of its long-term building plans.

"Every two years, we check out with the community if we are thinking in a different direction than they want," Superintendent Paul Johnson said. "We get some validation of where they see things."

Two of the projects the district could get validation on are the career and technical education building and the remodel at Simle Middle School.

The career and technical center building will give the district extra space for its career and technical education classes, like welding, automotive technology and electronics. The district currently leases space in the John Collins building at BSC, and its lease for this space ends in 2009. Construction on the new building will begin after the lease expires on land the district will lease from the college. When complete, the district and BSC will share the new and old buildings.

Simle Middle School would be the latest renovation project. The district recently finished a renovation and addition at Richholt Elementary School, which houses BECEP.

The Simle renovation would replace the wall panels with another type of material and the science classrooms in the north wing would be updated.