In with the new!

“Out with the old and in with the new” appears to be Flasher Public School’s motto as of recently, with the school investing in several upgrades over the past few months. With the revamp, students now have access to a more reliable activity bus for school events, new playground equipment for elementary students, and more secure bleachers at the football field. 

These projects were largely driven by concern for the safety of students, faculty, and fans, as well as the need for greater reliability. The Flasher school board and the local community also played a significant role in making these improvements possible, contributing support, resources, and connections throughout the process.  

One of the biggest upgrades for Flasher is the addition of a new activity bus, providing students with a more reliable way to travel to sporting events, competitions, and other school activities. The decision to purchase the new bus came after repeated problems with the previous activity bus, which had frequent breakdowns and created risky transportation challenges for students and staff. At times, the school was even forced to take a yellow school bus to transfer the children, creating huge inconveniences. 

To avoid further issues, the school decided the 13-year-old activity bus would retire to backup duty and start the hunt for a new one. 

The new activity bus was purchased in the middle of the 2025-2026 school year and arrived at the end of August. Its first voyage was used for a volleyball trip. The bus can carry 44 passengers, four more than previous, and will be available for all student activities rather than limited to varsity teams. 

“We need to let all groups use the bus,” said superintendent, JR Wilson. 

The new activity bus cost $178,000 and was funded through the school’s general fund account. The school had budgeted $200,000 for the purchase, making the final price lower than initially anticipated. The school also chose to opt out of adding extra features and keeping the new bus similar to the previous, which also helped to keep costs down. 

While the new bus may provide more reliability and safety, not everyone is convinced it is an upgrade in the comfort department. According to Wilson, a few students have already commented that the seats are not quite as spacious as those on the old bus. However, he joked that students always have another option. 

“The alternative is we can put you in one of those yellow buses,” he said with a laugh. 

With that in mind, a slightly smaller seat may not seem so bad after all. 

While the new activity bus is helping students get to their activities safely, another upgrade is keeping younger students closer to the classroom. The elementary playground recently received new equipment after the previous structure began showing signs of deterioration and posed potential safety risks, with concerns of children cutting themselves on exposed plastic edges. 

At first, the school explored the possibility of simply finding replacement parts, but the manufacturer of the original structure was no longer in business, and replacement parts were unavailable. With repairs no longer being an option, the school decided it was time for a new structure. 

The new playground equipment itself cost $23,000, with an additional $15,000 for installation. Fortunately, the school applied for the Flasher Area Community Foundation Grant and was able to receive $29,000 to cover many of those expenses. 

The purchase was made around April-May of last year and was installed in September after being delivered and inspected. Following installation, on September 24, the installers recommended waiting the weekend to allow the concrete to cure before students began using it. Students got their first chance to enjoy the new equipment on September 28. 

The students did not waste any time putting the new equipment to use, which includes one additional slide, one more than the previous. During the first recess with the new playground, superintendent Wilson noticed a line of approximately 18 students waiting to use the pull-up handles. Students took turns swinging and playing on and with the new equipment, creating quite a line of eager kids. 

“They are loving it,” Wilson said, describing the students’ reaction. 

While the new equipment marks an exciting fresh start for the school playground, the previous equipment holds a special place in the school’s history and the community’s heart. 

The old playground equipment was donated to the school decades ago by Duane and Diane Frank, in honor of their son. After years of providing a place for children to play and expand their imagination, the equipment was removed by members of the Frank family who plan to save it. 

The school also hopes to eventually establish a memorial contribution or recognition at the playground to honor the Frank family and the lasting impact they had on generations of Flasher students. 

While the new playground gives younger students a safer place to play, Flasher’s older students and the community have also seen improvement at the football field. After years of wear and tear, the school replaced the old wooden bleachers that had become a core part of the experience for many students and fans. A new set of metal bleachers have taken their place to provide a safer and more accessible experience for athletes, families, and fans.

The idea of replacing the old bleachers began during Wilson’s first year at Flasher Public School. At the first home football game he attended, he noticed several safety concerns, including uneven planks and bolts sticking out, he even noticed some people stub their toes on the bolts. The following week, while walking through the bleachers, he found areas where seating and walking surfaces had deteriorated to the point where it felt like someone could fall through. 

Rather than waiting for an accident to happen and being forced to replace the bleachers, the school decided to be proactive and address the issues. The old bleachers had required multiple repairs and patchwork after every season, creating an ongoing maintenance issue. 

“It was just a safety hazard, and it was just a matter of time until something happened,” Wilson explained. 

The new bleachers can seat approximately 400 people and cost approximately $49,000. The project also included $18,000 for asphalting of the road leading down to the field, along with some additional costs for hand railings and an accessibility ramp on the bleachers. The Flasher Area Community Foundation contributed an $85,000 grant toward the project. 

The bleachers themselves came from the Mandan Sports Complex and had to be disassembled and transported to Flasher before being installed. 

The school also added a smaller set of bleachers up top, near the shed, as well as picnic tables where fans can bring chairs and watch the game. The elevated design of the new bleachers also gives spectators that same clear view that the previous ones provided, as well as spacious seating for groups to sit together. 

The response to the new bleachers has been positive, according to Wilson. Fans have also benefited from the newly paved road, which makes traveling to and from the bleachers easier. With a combination of improved seating, better accessibility, and additional gathering areas, the football field has become another part of the school’s much-needed update. 

With a new activity bus, playground equipment, and football bleachers, Flasher Public School showcases not only a refresh, but the school’s priority for safety, reliability, accessibility, and a better experience for students, staff, and community members. 

Much of the work was made possible by the Flasher school board, Flasher Area Community Foundation, and community members, who contributed their time, resources, and connections. Wilson especially acknowledges the role the school board played in making all these projects possible and taking ownership of the improvements. 

“They all used their community connections and that made it all the easier,” Wilson explained, “they all put their hands in there and offered the support to make sure it got it.”

With durable ways to travel, new places to play, and a safer place to gather under the Friday night lights, Flasher Public School is continuing to make improvements that will benefit students and the community for years to come.