Four candidates will vie for two openings on the Bismarck School Board. Incumbent Paul Govig is joined on the ballot by Lawrence King, Donavan Klein and Cheryl Long Feather.

Each seat is a four-year term. Incumbent Parrell Grossman will not be running for re-election on Tuesday. The successful candidates will take office in July.

The candidates recently responded to three questions on issues facing the district. They were asked which of three sites they would select for a new elementary school, whether they would renovate Myhre Elementary School or sell it, and if they should borrow money for a new $12 million career and technical center building to be built on land leased at Bismarck State College.

One of the candidates, Cheryl Long Feather, didn't respond to the questions. She did issue a statement:

"First of all, I would like to thank the Bismarck Tribune for taking seriously their crucial role in informing the community about candidates for the various public offices. The coverage of the candidates and issues has been fair and responsible. I greatly appreciate the opportunity that was provided to address some of the issues as a candidate for the Bismarck School Board. Thus, it is with regret that I decline to respond.

"As some may be aware, I have also decided to run for a seat in the North Dakota State Legislature for my District (32). I will be focusing more energy toward that race, although I will continue to thoroughly support our fine Bismarck Public School system through ongoing volunteer work and community collaboration. While it was a little disappointing to be unable to address any school board issues in which I would be most interested - including educational policies, academic achievement and parent-school relations - I hope to work collaboratively with those eventually elected and the incumbent school board on these issues."

Here is a look at the other candidates and their responses to the questions.

Paul Govig

Govig, 51, has served on the board since 2004. He is the deputy commissioner with the North Dakota Department of Commerce. He is married to Julie and has three children, Tanner, 18; Bruce, 16; and Ann, 14. He has a master's in business administration from the University of North Dakota.

He's seeking a second term to help the district meet its mission, "but meeting that mission must be counter-balanced with the knowledge that dealing with increasing property taxes is a very significant issue for many of the citizens of Bismarck."

He would like to see a new school placed where it makes the fewest boundary changes, although there are needs in other parts of the district. "Lincoln deserves serious consideration as a location for a new elementary school," Govig said. "Nonetheless, alleviating the current crowding issue by building in Lincoln would have to include many school boundary changes, and such proposals typically cause considerable heartburn for our patrons."

While the district is planning for growth, it also needs to consider its current facilities. The board will consider in the future whether to renovate or sell.

"If the demographic trends continue to indicate that a school will be needed in the Myhre area for an extended period of time, it is my opinion that it would be prudent to renovate," Govig said. "We should be able to fix the problems at Myhre for much less money than it would cost to build a new school."

The district will finalize a plan to pay for the new career and technical center, and will consider whether it should borrow money from the school construction loan program.

"The finance package has yet to be finalized, but it likely will include existing budget dollars, future cashflow and a loan from the state building fund, "Govig said. "The state building fund offers 'below market' terms and conditions and so it makes sense to take advantage of that option."

Lawrence King

King, 42, is an attorney and president of the board of Bridging the Dental Gap, a group that provides dental care on a sliding fee scale. He is married to Tammy and they have three children, Samantha, 17; Erick, 15; and Isaac, 6. This is his first run for public office.

He is past president of the state bar association and serves on many church committees. He has a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of North Dakota and a law degree from UND law school.

He is running for the board because it is a civic obligation and he wants to be involved in finding solutions to some of the long-term issues facing the district, he said.

Overcrowding in the elementary schools needs to be addressed by the new elementary school, King said. At this point, though, more information is needed before a site is selected.

"Without seeing, considering and analyzing the administrations recommendations, the public's input on the subject, and the perspective of the educators, I think it is premature to 'pick' a site," he said.

He has attended school board meetings where the subject has been discussed by the board and administration.

The new elementary school also is tied into what could be done with Myhre, he said. He would like a meeting with the Myhre community about the school. He also sees potential for it to fund a new school on the south end of the district.

"One option would be to sell Myhre and use the proceeds (along with the savings resulting in not renovating it) to build a new school on the south side, with Lincoln as a possibility," King said. "But, any decision needs to recognize the educational needs of the students in the Myhre area."

As for the new career and technical education building, it makes fiscal sense to borrow from the school construction fund, he said. "This very low interest loan; from a monetary perspective, is a good idea."

Donavan Klein

Klein, 30, is an analyst at Unisys. His wife is Angie and they have three children, Dawsyn, 7; Keidan, 4; and Brylee, 2. This is his first time running for an elected office. He is running to be involved in issues that will affect his family and the community.

He has a bachelor's degree in social behavior science in education. He is involved in his church.

He is running for the school board because of an interest in serving the community and for his family.

"(I) believe it is time to help give back to the community and show that a 'regular' person can get involved in issues that affect my family and many others in our great city," he said.

He would place a school in the north, near Horizon because of access and infrastructure.

"The area around Horizon Middle School has proven it can handle the current traffic flow and, with minor outlets, may be able to easily accommodate the increase in traffic a new elementary school would bring."

What to do with Myhre Elementary School is complex, he said, because it is an important school to that part of the community.

"I feel the issue of a new elementary school and the decision on Myhre Elementary go hand in hand; if Myhre is sold, we would be able to add space to a neighboring school, such as Dorothy Moses, to accommodate the redistribution of our students," he said.

He doesn't want to raise taxes for the career and technical center, so borrowing money from the state would be a good way to make money available for the project, he said.

"A project of this magnitude would greatly help our high school students gain college and real world experiences," he said.