North Dakota
Capstone Classical Academy begins construction of main campus
FARGO — The area’s newest Christian school has taken another step closer to fulfilling its goal of becoming a pre-K through 12th grade school in beginning construction of its main campus.
Hoping that the first phase of the 90,000-square-foot construction project will be completed before the fall of 2024, Capstone Classical Academy has raised $40 million of a $50 million campaign goal for the first phase, said Paul Fisher, headmaster.
Originally, the
goal was to complete the project’s first phase
at 43rd Street South and 64th Avenue South in the fall of 2025, but enrollment, funding and demand have expedited the process, Fisher said.
“Our first phase includes a fully functional campus. Completion could run as late as winter, but we expect to move into the main educational building for the 2024-2025 school year,” he said.
The new school will be complete with classrooms, a gymnasium, an art studio, a science laboratory, a chapel and more, Fisher said.
Special to The Forum
The second phase, which will feature varsity sports and arts complexes, is penciled in for completion sometime in 2029, Fisher said.
Enrollment is up 50% from last school year, the school reported, with 175 students to begin pre-K through eighth grade classes on Aug. 24 at the school’s temporary campuses on 25th Street South.
Shortly before the first day of school last year, Capstone reported they had
enrolled 114 students
in pre-K through sixth grade.
Each year, the academy plans to add a grade to its roster, ending with 12th grade before 2030. The goal by that time is to have at least 560 students enrolled in pre-K-12 classes.
“Enrollment is right where we planned. We have a six-year strategic plan, and enrollment is exactly where we want it to be,” Fisher said. “It’s a very controlled model. We don’t want to be growing ahead of our capacity.”
Special to The Forum
Capstone is the first private Christian Hillsdale College K-12 member school in the nation, Fisher said, adding that Hillsdale College has partnered with charter schools, but not with private schools before.
“We are the first in a batch of Christian private schools seeking to partner with Hillsdale,” Fisher said.
Hillsdale College is a private college of 1,400 students in southern Michigan that describes itself as a conservative liberal arts “nonsectarian Christian” school. Justice Clarence Thomas likened Hillsdale to a “shining city on a hill” for its devotion to “liberty as an antecedent of government, not a benefit from government,” according to The
New York Times.
Chris Flynn / The Forum
Fisher attributed the school’s success and growth to a veteran board of trustees, dedicated faculty and administration, the community, and Hillsdale College curriculum and support.
“Normally, when a school launches, there is a really slow start. But all of this was launched from day one,” Fisher said.
The coronavirus pandemic was also an eye-opening experience for many families that prompted some to look for additional educational opportunities, he said.
“People are hungry for educational choice. We’re seeing a rapid growth of Christian schools around the country that was driven by the pandemic,” Fisher said. “Families were seeing what was going on in the classrooms from home, and the pandemic launched a period of growth of private schools.”
Some struggling private schools shut down during the pandemic, but others thrived, he said.
Chris Flynn / The Forum
“Capstone came along on the heels of that, and the model is captivating. People are interested in something new, and the retention rate is so high — just the word of mouth has been positive because of that,” Fisher said.
He described the school as Christian but also
“rooted in ancient Greek educational philosophy,”
adding that with tuition assistance programs, he wants families from any social status to feel welcomed at the school.
The school’s mission statement states that the institution “engages students to acquire wisdom, cultivate virtue, and pursue rigorous academic study within a Christian worldview. Our students will study what is good, what is true, and what is beautiful for the purpose of glorifying God and benefiting their community.”
On Aug. 30, the Capstone Board of Trustees will host a reception and benefit dinner open to the public by ticket at the Delta Hotel in Fargo. The event will feature an address by Hillsdale College President Larry Arnn, with a question and answer session to follow.
FARGO — The 117th meeting between North Dakota and North Dakota State will take place Saturday at 2:30 p.m. in the Fargodome.
Recaps of scoring plays as they happen will be posted below.
NDSU 7, UND 0, 10:39 left: The Bison move quickly on their first drive. After a questionable 15-yard pass interference on Antonio Bluiett, NDSU’s CharMar Brown scores from 2 yards out.
NDSU 14, UND 0, 2:18 left: After picking up a third-and-7, Cam Miller goes deep for Bryce Lance. Lance beats Clayton Bishop deep for a 36-yard touchdown connection.
Two statewide measures on North Dakota’s upcoming ballot offer residents a chance to make a difference in the future of the state — one is based on new economics, the other on new social norms and courtesies.
Measure 1 seeks to make changes to how the state Constitution defines institutions in Grafton, Devils Lake and Jamestown. Measure 3 seeks to decrease the funding that can be expended from the Legacy Fund during a single biennium.
Here’s a look at each:
Although a simple majority vote in the Legislature is required to place a proposed constitutional amendment before the voters, Senate Concurrent Resolution 4001 passed without a single “no” vote during the last legislative session.
The real surprise isn’t that the proposal was unanimously passed, but rather that it’s taken this long. Specifically, the measure seeks to change the official name of the state institutions to be more in line with societal evolution that has taken place over the decades. It would change the State School for the Deaf and Dumb in Devils Lake to the State School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing; the State Hospital for the Insane in Jamestown to the State Hospital for Individuals With Mental Illness; and the Institution for the Feeble Minded in Grafton to a “facility for individuals with developmental disabilities.” The latter already has been called the Life Skills and Transition Center, but Measure 1 will make it official.
We urge a “yes” vote on Measure 1, and may this be the last time those phrases are used in print.
A statewide vote in 2010 established the Legacy Fund, a piggy bank for the people that collects 30% of tax revenue from oil and natural gas extraction in the state. In its first 13 years, the fund grew past $9 billion.
Now, a constitutional amendment seeks to decrease the amount of principal available for spending each biennium, from 15% to 5% of the total. The amendment would provide for distribution from the Legacy Fund to a Legacy earnings fund, rather than have the accrued earnings be sent to the state’s general fund, as currently happens.
We don’t like the proposal. Why put constraints on future spending, especially if some sort of tragedy or emergency occurs?
And what about the next great idea — one we cannot fathom today but one that might require a large and expedient expenditure to push it to fruition?
Measure 3 seems like an idea not to spend money. We believe North Dakotans should embrace the state’s prosperity. The Legacy Fund was established to provide a better future for the state, and it’s time to start thinking about what that future will look like.
Vote no on Measure 3.
This Forum Communications Co. editorial represents the views of Forum Communications Co., this newspaper’s parent company. It was written by the FCC Editorial Advisory Board.
North Dakota
ORLP Program awards North Dakota a grant of nearly $4.5 million for development projects
GRAND FORKS, N.D. (KFYR) – A grant of nearly $4.5 million from the National Park Service is giving the City of Grand Forks a chance to begin one of its projects that will create more recreational activities in the area.
Thanks to the funding the state received from this grant, the City of Grand Forks is being provided with $3,489,750 to cover phase one of a three-phased masterplan to enhance the Grand Forks Downtown Gateway and Greenway.
“This funding was available, and we met with the North Dakota Parks and Recreation, with Char, and said ‘Is there any chance at all that our project would qualify for funding?’” said Kim Greendahl, Greenway specialist for the city of Grand Forks.
This is the first time the state of North Dakota has qualified for this grant since the beginning of the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program in 2014.
This year, the program awarded the largest grant investment in its history, giving nearly $254 million in 24 states. To qualify, communities needed to have populations of 30,000 or more.
“Before, the requirements were more stringent; populations of 50,000, so a lot of the cities in North Dakota didn’t qualify, but this year it was opened up to multiple cities,” said Char Langehaug, grants coordinator for the North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department.
Residents and visitors of Grand Forks can expect phase one to bring a playground area and outdoor learning space, a picnic shelter and a nature promenade. Phase two and three will bring people closer to the water and the addition of a pedestrian bridge.
“The community has really gotten behind this project and it’s exciting, lots of outdoor recreation whilst still being in a flood plain,” said Greendahl.
The City of Grand Forks says it predicts the construction of phase one will officially begin in 2026.
One million dollars of the funds given to North Dakota will be used to enhance the Turtle Mountain Family Recreation Area.
Copyright 2024 KFYR. All rights reserved.
Kansas City Royals Starting Pitcher Set to Make Unusual History in ALDS Start
Kentucky firefighters spend a week of training in the Czech Republic
New cadets, first female class president graduate from Louisiana State Police Training Academy
Oct 19 Mini Maine Makers Market in Damariscotta
Montgomery Co. renters raise alarm over high levels of nitrogen dioxide in apartments – WTOP News
Colorado Rockies game no. 116 thread: Zac Gallen vs José Ureña
See it: Tesla crashes into Columbus convention center at 70 mph
Fox News Politics: Georgia the whole day through
Death of missing Oregon girl found in stream ruled homicide
At least 2 dead as tornadoes hit Alabama, damage homes across Southeast
Speaker Johnson rips ‘lack of leadership’ in Biden admin's Helene response: 'alarmed and disappointed'
Israel hits Beirut’s southern suburbs with a dozen airstrikes
The historic Biltmore Estate, an Asheville icon, works to recover from Helene damage
Video: Where Trump and Harris Stand on the Economy
Trump says Israel should hit Iran’s nuclear facilities, slamming Biden’s response
-
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25439572/VRG_TEC_Textless.jpg "Charter will offer Peacock for free with some cable subscriptions next year")
Technology3 days agoCharter will offer Peacock for free with some cable subscriptions next year
-
World2 days agoUkrainian stronghold Vuhledar falls to Russian offensive after two years of bombardment
-
World2 days agoWikiLeaks’ Julian Assange says he pleaded ‘guilty to journalism’ in order to be freed
-
Technology2 days agoBeware of fraudsters posing as government officials trying to steal your cash
-
Politics1 week agoSecret Service agent accused of sexually assaulting Harris campaign staffer: report
-
World1 week agoPutin outlines new rules for Russian use of vast nuclear arsenal
-
Sports20 hours agoFreddie Freeman says his ankle sprain is worst injury he's ever tried to play through
-
Virginia4 days agoStatus for Daniels and Green still uncertain for this week against Virginia Tech; Reuben done for season