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Thousands of North Dakota students spend snow day in virtual classroom

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Thousands of North Dakota students spend snow day in virtual classroom


BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) – The pandemic taught us all new methods to do issues.

Most of us are actually set as much as work at home if we have to, and our children are all too accustomed to on-line studying.

So, whereas some children do have a conventional snow day at the moment, many throughout North Dakota are nonetheless within the classroom, nearly.

The Hintz sisters bought up early to sort out their schoolwork. They’re simply three of the hundreds of Bismarck Public Faculties’ college students spending this snowy day in a digital classroom.

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Fifth grader Veda Hintz is glad to do her schoolwork in her pajamas, however she’d nonetheless slightly be in her classroom.

“I like my instructor and I can see my mates,” she stated.

Beulah college students realized they’d have one other digital studying day on TikTok.

“It connects with children and youngsters appear to love it,” stated Beulah superintendent Travis Jordan.

He says they determined to have digital days as a result of they’d loads of time to arrange.

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“We met as an admin crew early final week once we first heard about this and stated, ‘We should always simply begin getting ready our lecturers and our neighborhood for digital studying,’ and so we did,” he defined.

Whereas he is aware of digital studying isn’t ultimate, he says there are some advantages to days like this.

“The instructor has extra alternatives to have one on one discussions with college students and even small group discussions with out disruptions,” defined Jordan. “It provides mother and father a possibility to grow to be engaged of their youngsters’s studying.”

For Superintendent Jordan, which means spending time together with his personal children, engaged on fourth grade and kindergarten schoolwork and hoping he doesn’t need to make any extra TikTok movies anytime quickly.

Superintendent Travis Jordan says if the climate doesn’t enhance, Beulah could have one other digital day Thursday.

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North Dakota

School phone policies needed, but not a state ban, bill opponents say

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School phone policies needed, but not a state ban, bill opponents say


Mactrunk / Depositphotos.com

BISMARCK (North Dakota Monitor) – North Dakota public education groups said Wednesday they recognize the need for a policy on student use of cellphones but mostly resisted a call for a state-mandated ban.

Rep. Jim Jonas, R-West Fargo, introduced House Bill 1160 that would ban students from using cellphones during class time.

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A proposed amendment to the bill would add some exemptions, like using a smartphone to monitor health conditions, such as diabetes, and in some cases where students are on a learning plan crafted for the student.

The House Education Committee did not act on the bill or the amendment but indicated that there would be more discussion next week.

KrisAnn Norby-Jahner, legal counsel for the North Dakota School Boards Association, testified that the cellphone use issue should be handled at the local level, but added she would not be opposed to a bill requiring that school districts have a cellphone policy.

Mike Heilman, executive director of the North Dakota Small Organized Schools, testified that the group’s board members did not support the bill.

He said some teachers have students use their phone during class and designate a spot on the desk where the phone should be when not being used.

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He also said some schools may want to make exceptions for juniors and seniors to have more access to their phones

But he also said schools might like the state’s support on the need for a cellphone policy.

Cellphone use among students was described during testimony as a mental health issue in addition to being a distraction.

Rachel Bachmeier, principal at West Fargo High School, said there has been “less drama” since the school restricted phone use to breaks between classes.

She said parents generally support that policy, with little support for an overall ban during the school day.

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Steve Madler, principal at Bismarck Century High School, said his experience with a ban during the school day turned out to be unworkable for many students and parents.

The U.S. Department of Education in December called on every state and school district to adopt a policy on phone use in schools.

Jonas, a former West Fargo teacher, said the goal of the bill is improved test scores and mental health. He said he received some calls from principals for an all-out ban during the school day.

When asked what the penalty would be for a school that did not enforce the state policy, he did not give specifics.

“The hope is that they would abide by the law,” he said.

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Two Grand Forks residents among finalists for state Board of Higher Education

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Two Grand Forks residents among finalists for state Board of Higher Education


GRAND FORKS — Two Grand Forks residents are among six finalists to fill two seats on the state Board of Higher Education, State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler announced this week.

A nominating committee selected the six finalists, and the names will next go before Gov. Kelly Armstrong to make the final two appointments, which then must be confirmed by the North Dakota Senate.

The selected nominees will fill the board seats currently held by Casey Ryan, a Grand Forks physician who is finishing his second four-year term on the board and is not eligible for reappointment, and Jeffry Volk, a retired Fargo consulting engineer, who is eligible for a second term.

The finalists for Ryan’s seat are:

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  • Levi Bachmeier, business manager of the West Fargo school district and education adviser to former Gov. Doug Burgum,
  • Russel Crary, a Grand Forks real estate developer, and
  • Rich Wardner, of Dickinson, a former North Dakota Senate majority leader and retired K-12 teacher and coach.

The finalists for Volk’s seat are:

  • Beverly Johnson, of Grand Forks, a retired physical therapy professor and clinical education director at the UND medical school,
  • Warren Sogard, owner and chairman of American State Bank and Trust Co., of Williston, and
  • Volk, the incumbent.

The nominating committee met Tuesday to review a dozen applicants for the two openings, according to a release. Baesler is chairwoman of the nominating committee, and other members are Jon Jensen, chief justice of the North Dakota Supreme Court; Nick Archuleta, president of North Dakota United, which represents teachers and state employees; House Speaker Robin Weisz, R-Hurdsfield; and Senate President Pro Tempore Brad Bekkedahl, R-Williston, the release said.

The Board of Higher Education has eight voting members and two nonvoting members who represent the system’s faculty and staff. It oversees the North Dakota University System’s 11 colleges and universities.

Our newsroom occasionally reports stories under a byline of “staff.” Often, the “staff” byline is used when rewriting basic news briefs that originate from official sources, such as a city press release about a road closure, and which require little or no reporting. At times, this byline is used when a news story includes numerous authors or when the story is formed by aggregating previously reported news from various sources. If outside sources are used, it is noted within the story.





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North Dakota family leads fight against youth suicide

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North Dakota family leads fight against youth suicide


Editor’s note: If you or someone you know is in crisis, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741.

FARGO — Suicide is the leading cause of death for young people in North Dakota aged 10 to 24, a sobering statistic The 463 Foundation is determined to change.

The foundation, created by Todd and Elizabeth Medd after losing their son Liam to suicide in 2021, hosted a suicide prevention night at Discovery Middle School on Tuesday, Jan. 14. The event emphasized the importance of mental health awareness and reducing stigma.

“Our goal is to make sure that one person hears the right message or the message at the right time,” said Todd Medd, co-founder of the foundation. “With that message, they can either use it for themselves or share it with others as well.”

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The Medd family spoke to students and parents about warning signs such as self-segregation or sudden behavioral changes and highlighted studies showing teen suicides can often be impulsive, with 25% of cases occurring within five minutes of the first thought.

Todd Medd emphasized the power of open dialogue. “Vulnerability breeds vulnerability,” he said. “When you share your challenges, it opens the door for deeper conversations with your kids.”

The 463 Foundation will continue its efforts to spread hope and awareness, including its fourth annual baseball tournament in June to support Fargo youth baseball and promote its mission.

Ryan McNamara joined WDAY as a reporter in late 2024. He is a native of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota and graduated from St. Cloud State University in 2024.
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His time as a Husky included copious amounts of time spent at “The Herb” reporting on Husky hockey, or at Halenbeck Hall calling Husky basketball. He also spent two summers with the Northwoods League’s St. Cloud Rox. Along with his duties in news and sports, Ryan dons a headset for occasional play-by-play broadcasts for North Dakota and Minnesota high school sports.

When he’s away from the station, he’s most likely lifting, finding time to golf, or taking in as much college basketball as possible, in order to complete the elusive perfect March Madness bracket.





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