North Dakota

Viewpoint: Teacher Recruitment and Retention Task Force is a positive step

Published

2 years ago

February 14, 2024

Viewpoint: Teacher Recruitment and Retention Task Force is a positive step

It comes as a surprise to no one that North Dakota, like every other state in the nation, is in the throes of an unprecedented teacher shortage.

Longtime administrators will tell you that where once there were dozens of applications for each open position, they are now fortunate to receive one or two worthy applicants, if any. Many educators will tell you that K-12 education remains an honorable and vital profession with an ever-increasing level of stress. What both agree on is that the consequences of ignoring the teacher shortage are dire and that this challenge cannot go unmet.

That is why all of us at ND United are appreciative of

Gov. Doug Burgum’s creation of the Recruitment and Retention Task Force

. Through this task force, North Dakota can do what no other state has yet accomplished: end the teacher shortage and return respect and dignity to public education and the professionals who provide it.

There is not a single cause of the teacher shortage. It came about as the result of many factors. Among them is that public education, like many of our nation’s institutions, was thrust into the ceaseless churn of the culture wars. The notion that “all politics is local” became a moot point, and North Dakota became caught up in the national and irrational hysteria surrounding CRT, DEI, Common Core, and any number of things that were not – and are not – in evidence in our state. Teachers and librarians were dragged into this sociopolitical scrum caused by charlatans who have turned stoking ideological outrage into a lucrative grift. While those hucksters became influencers of ideologues who value sound bites over sound policy, teachers became worn down by unseemly accusations and insinuations that called into question their integrity and professionalism.

The Recruitment and Retention Task Force has the opportunity to reverse this slide. Through its work, the task force can make recommendations to the governor and Legislature to design policies that amplify the voices of educators and improve salaries and benefits that are commensurate with the important work they do every day. In addition, the task force can recommend improved working conditions with adequate staffing levels so that teachers and education support professionals are able to meet the needs of every child in their charge. Other recommendations should include creating meaningful and less burdensome pathways to licensure and using data to inform decisions on teacher recruitment and retention.

Burgum was right to form this task force, and he and the Legislature will be right to take its recommendations seriously. As a society, we do not do anything more important than educate our future. By continuing to ignore the teacher shortage or implementing strategies that nibble around the edges of policy, we are failing both our students and our future.

Now is the time for bold action. I am confident that with all stakeholders at the table, we can fulfill the promise of great public schools in every community in North Dakota.

Nick Archuleta is president of North Dakota United.

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North Dakota

Memorial to honor late Secret Service agent Clint Hill in the works

Published

4 minutes ago

April 18, 2026

Press Room

Memorial to honor late Secret Service agent Clint Hill in the works

BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) – A new streaming series about the late John F. Kennedy Junior, along with a congressional campaign by John F. Kennedy’s grandson, has once again put the Kennedy family back in the headlines. This summer, a former bodyguard of Jackie Kennedy will be in the spotlight. He’s originally from North Dakota and recently passed away.

Clint Hill came from a small town in North Dakota but landed on the world’s stage after he protected First Lady Jackie Kennedy after her husband, the President of the United States, was assassinated.

And now, decades later, members of the Washburn American Legion revere Clint Hill for his heroic service to five Presidents.

“He was involved in that infamous assassination in Dallas, which certainly affected his life, but he came out of it. And his support of God and country never wavered through all of this,” said John Schulz, monument organizer and member of Washburn American Legion Victor B Wallin Post #12.

To honor this North Dakota son, Schulz and others have spent the past year organizing a grand dedication and monument for Hill.

“We’ll have a nice carved-in flag on the left side of the monument,” said Shulz.

The monument will be made of polished granite and weigh 12,000 pounds.

It will be six feet tall and five feet wide, and will include a bronze plaque of the Zapruder photo of Hill covering Jackie Kennedy during the JFK assassination.

Shulz worked alongside Hill’s widow, Lisa McCubbin Hill, to design sections of the monument.

Shulz believes this dedication is long overdue.

“I think it’s important to honor someone who served his country well. He served under five Presidents and did a wonderful job taking care of them,” said Shulz.

There will also be multiple plaques summarizing important points of Hill’s life on the back side of the monument.

The dedication will happen on Aug. 1 at Washburn’s Veterans Memorial Park.

Three to four hundred people will be in attendance, including Hill’s widow, past and present state governors and various Hill relatives.

So far, the legion post has raised $60,000 of its $100,000 goal, but feels it will have no problem reaching that fundraising number.

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North Dakota

2026 NFL Draft Profile: North Dakota State wide receiver Bryce Lance

Published

12 hours ago

April 17, 2026

Press Room

The Denver Broncos made their big splash this offseason trading for wide receiver Jaylen Waddle to bolster their offense. The position is now five deep at the position with Waddle, Courtland Sutton, Marvin Mims Jr., Troy Franklin, and Pat Bryant.

The receiving corps has a lot of talent, but also a lot of questions. Sutton isn’t getting any younger and has a significant cap hit in 2027. Additionally, it’s the last year of Mims’ rookie contract. In my opinion, the Broncos don’t have a long-term replacement in the mix for Sutton at the X position, which could be an area they seek to address in the 2026 NFL Draft.

The Broncos utilizing their second-round selection on a wide receiver is very unlikely. However, a player I believe they will carry a relatively high grade on his North Dakota State standout Bryce Lance. Lance broke out in 2024 during the Bison’s last FCS title with 75 receptions for 1,053 yards and 17 touchdowns catching passes from Cam Miller. This past year, he had 51 receptions, 1,070 receiving yards, and 8 touchdowns with projected Day 2 pick Cole Payton throwing him the ball.

He checks a lot of the boxes Head Coach Sean Payton covets at the position. Not only that, but I also believe he has the ability to be an explosive X receiver at the next level. Let’s do a deep dive regarding his strengths and weaknesses, and why and when the Broncos should consider selection him in this year’s draft.

Player Profile: Bryce Lance — Wide Receiver — North Dakota State

Height: 6’3” | Weight: 204 pounds | Arm Length: 32-1/8” | Hand Size: 9-1/4” | Age: 23 Years Old

40-Yard Dash: 4.34 seconds | 10-Yard Split: 1.49 seconds | 3-Cone Drill: 7 seconds

Vertical: 41.5” | Broad Jump: 11’1” | 20-Yard Shuttle: 4.15 seconds

Statistics: 57 games played, 26 starts, 127 receptions with 2,157 receiving yards. 25 receiving touchdowns, as well as 121 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns.

Film Room & Highlights

Hart’s Scouting Report

Positives:

Good size and frame to handle being an X receiver on the outside in the NFL
Elite athlete who has top-tier speed and vertical playmaking ability
One of the most productive wide receivers in college football the past two seasons with a penchant for touchdowns and big-time plays that move the chains
Incredible ball tracker down the field with a knack for coming down with highlight reel catches in the endzone, much like Sutton
Amongst the best in this class most with respect to efficiency on outs, posts, corners, screens, and nine routes
Top-notch hops and strong hands who routinely comes down with contested catches
Ample special teams experience serving primarily in that fashion for the Bison in 2022 and 2023 after his redshirt season

Negatives:

Despite tremendous downfield speed, he doesn’t sport much short area quickness
Will likely need to add some strength and weight to handle the rigors of the next level
Route refining and release at the line of scrimmage will need some work to take on NFL caliber talent
Doesn’t have a lot of drops, but would like to see better catching technique, too often body catching instead of extending out and plucking from the air

Hart’s Projection: Top 75 Selection — Late Second Round, Early Third Round Value

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North Dakota

North Dakota boasts most wildlife refuges in the US

Published

1 day ago

April 16, 2026

Press Room

North Dakota boasts most wildlife refuges in the US

BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) – Did you know that North Dakota has 63 wildlife refuges? That is more than any other state! These refuges are places where the land and water are protected to preserve the homes of animals dependent on the land.

North Dakota’s refuges are home to many animals, including moose, badgers, coyotes and more than 250 kinds of birds.

You can visit many of North Dakota’s wildlife refuges, including Audubon National Wildlife Refuge in McLean County, Lake Zahl National Wildlife Refuge in Williams County and Slade National Wildlife Refuge in Burleigh County.

Activities can range from fishing and hunting to enjoying hiking trails and photography.

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