02.16.16

Hoeven Helps Dedicate New Watford City High School, Lauds Local Educational Control

Senator Working to Help Communities Accommodate Growth

WATFORD CITY, N.D. – During the dedication of the new Watford City High School today, Senator John Hoeven congratulated parents, teachers and administrators on the completion of the community’s new high school, praising their initiative and hard work in meeting the growing needs of local students. The $53 million facility has the capacity to serve 800 students and is one of several local projects that arose out of the region’s historic growth. Since 2009, K-12 enrollment in Watford City schools has grown by nearly 150 percent, up to 1316 students. The new school initially will serve grades 7 through 12, transitioning to only high school students should growth continue as projected.

“This beautiful new school is the tangible representation of local efforts - the countless hours of planning, designing and financing - to address the academic needs of our ever-growing population of young people,” Hoeven said. “North Dakota’s teachers are dedicated to providing our children with the knowledge and skills they needs to succeed, and this modern building is fully equipped to help them prepare students for the jobs of the future. We continue to work in Congress, through measures like the Every Student Succeeds Act, to empower our teachers, school administrators and parents to help ensure the continued vitality of our communities and the future success of our kids.”

Hoeven stressed the vital role of parents and local leaders in directing educational decisions and outlined how the education reform bill that Congress passed in December will support their efforts to provide students with a strong education that will prepare them for life and work. The new federal education bill replaces No Child Left Behind and restores state and local control over education standards. It prevents the federal government from mandating or incentivizing academic standards, including Common Core, and makes important reforms by replacing one-size-fits-all accountability requirements with state-designed systems. Additionally, the bill includes a provision based on legislation offered by Senators Hoeven and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) to bolster Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education.

The senator also highlighted the importance of providing adequate infrastructure and services to support the state’s growth. He said the Watford City community and its local leaders have done a tremendous job of meeting the challenges of a growing and dynamic economy. Hoeven has worked through his roles both as Governor of North Dakota and as U.S. Senator to help address the needs of the growing communities in the state, in areas such as transportation, reliable mail service and public safety. To this end, Hoeven:

  • Helped pass the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST) Act in December, a five-year highway bill that provides North Dakota with more than $1.3 billion and enables more than 100 North Dakota transportation projects to advance.
  • Facilitated the relocation and expansion of the Watford City Post Office.
  • Secured approval for and expedited the establishment of an FBI Resident Agency office in Williston.

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