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.

Source link

Click to comment

North Dakota

Current state of gas prices even though North Dakota has oil presence

Published

9 hours ago

April 15, 2026

Press Room

Current state of gas prices even though North Dakota has oil presence

MINOT, N.D. (KMOT) — The ongoing conflict in the Middle East continues to impact gas prices here at home.

We wanted to learn more about the current state of prices and why they aren’t lower due to the presence of the oil industry in our state.

On Monday, we told you gas prices are up roughly 15 cents across the peace garden state since last Monday and almost half a dollar in the past month.

The statewide average of $3.60 a gallon remains well below most of the rest of the country.

Eugene Graner of Heartland Investors said prices should eventually come back down as we approach an end to the conflict overseas.

Graner added that it’s typical for prices to increase as warmer weather approaches, as summer blends require a more expensive refining process.

“Prices currently may have peaked out and conversely see the prices decline towards summer, when we normally expect a price rise,” said Graner.

While North Dakota has drilling, pipelines and refineries, Graner added that doesn’t mean motorists in our state will necessarily see lower prices at the pump, as it still needs to be transported to refineries and then to market.

He added that Fargo can sometimes have ‘lower’ prices since they have three pipelines in the area.

Source link

North Dakota

Watford City Wrestlers Compete at 2026 USAW ND State Folkstyle Individual Tourney, Regional & National Duels

Published

22 hours ago

April 14, 2026

Press Room

Watford City Wrestlers Compete at 2026 USAW ND State Folkstyle Individual Tourney, Regional & National Duels

On March 27-28, North Dakota State USA wrestling championships hosted 1700+ wrestlers at the Civic Center in Bismarck ND. Wrestlers from age 5-14 from Watford City Wolves Wrestling Club competed. “Out of 61 teams Watford City came out in 6th place and was actually sitting in first for a long time.” according to coach Adam Greenhaw. “Us coaches are…

Source link

North Dakota

North Dakota’s Grand Farm to lead national farm tech research

Published

1 day ago

April 14, 2026

Press Room

North Dakota’s Grand Farm to lead national farm tech research

Jeff Beach
| North Dakota Monitor

North Dakota will lead a new U.S. Department of Agriculture initiative to advance farm technology.
Grand Farm, a research campus near Fargo, will manage the national program and serve as its first proving ground.
The project will launch with $11 million in funding and initially focus on weed control in North Dakota and Georgia.

CASSELTON, N.D. — North Dakota will lead the nation in a U.S. Department of Agriculture push to improve farm technology and research, federal officials announced Tuesday.

U.S. Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., said Grand Farm, a research campus west of Fargo, will be the national program manager for USDA’s National Proving Grounds Network for AgTech. Grand Farm will also be the first proving ground in the network, focusing on weed control.

North Dakota launched Grand Farm seven years ago, integrating research capabilities from North Dakota State University at Fargo with industry partners such as tech giant Microsoft.

Hoeven said Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, who visited Grand Farm last year, recognized that North Dakota provided a model for ag tech research and could be the manager for the rollout.

“It’s a huge deal,” Hoeven said. “It’s Grand Farm going national.”

Hoeven announced that $11 million will launch the proving grounds, a collaboration of Grand Farm, USDA’s Agricultural Research Service and NDSU.

Scott Hutchins, USDA under secretary for research, education and economics, said the first year of research will be concentrated in North Dakota and Georgia. The University of Georgia announced a partnership with Grand Farm in 2024.

He said after reviewing results from the first year, the department plans to accept proposals for research hubs in other states, eventually creating the national network.

Hutchins said profitability is a top priority. He said there has been a boom in ag technology, but farmers need help sifting through it all.

“Which one can provide the greatest return on investment?” he asked.

Hoeven said focusing on profitability is a must during rough economic times. “Right now, if you’re growing a crop, in most cases, you’re not making money,” Hoeven said.

The North Dakota Legislature invested $10 million in 2021 to help propel Grand Farm, which covers 590 acres near Casselton. Operating from tents and with portable bathrooms in its first years, the research site opened its first building in 2024. The Legislature invested an additional $7 million in 2025.

“The National Proving Grounds is the next chapter,” said Brian Carroll, chief operating officer for Grand Farm.

George Vellidis, of the University of Georgia’s Institute for Integrative Precision Agriculture, said Georgia is one year into operating its 250-acre research area similar to Grand Farm.

He said the goal is to translate the research in the Upper Midwest to crops grown in the southeast. A robot that can be taught to recognize weeds in North Dakota will have to be taught a different set of weeds that grow in Georgia, for example.

Grand Farm board member Kyle Courtney, who farms near Oakes, North Dakota, said the initiative will help field test practices “under a unified umbrella to help farmers make better decisions.”

North Dakota Monitor is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.

Source link