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Fargo Public Schools announces the assignment of Sean Safranski as principal of Davies High School. He will assume the position for the 2025-26 school year on July 1.

Get this week's news and events from across Fargo Public Schools in the current issue of SCHOOLTALK. This week's issue highlights include newsmakers, feature columns, and more.

Parents are reminded to check their children's lunch account. Information can be accessed by logging into the PowerSchool parent portal and clicking on SchoolPay. Parents should also be aware that there are opportunities for students to receive free meals and grocery assistance this summer. Read more about end of year procedures for lunch accounts and programs available for summer food assistance.

The Mental Health Series features Ask a Therapist LIVE will hold events each month over the summer. They offer a unique opportunity to engage directly with a licensed therapist!

The FPS library team would like to remind students, staff, and families of the wide variety of reading options offered through the summer from our local public libraries, public businesses, and by accessing our District e-book collection through Sora. FPS has a number of great opportunities and resources to encourage its students and staff to keep reading over the summer break.

​Fargo Public Schools announces the assignment of Erin Sinner as North High School Assistant Principal and Lori Nappe as Explorer Academy Assistant Principal.

The Fargo Board of Education and the Fargo Education Association do not yet have a negotiated agreement, but they are well underway with the 2025-27 negotiations season. The FEA and the Board have been hard at work negotiating since April 2, and despite challenges, they have or are close to having agreements on many topics discussed.

As the FPS community of educators, students, and families navigates the evolving landscape of Evidence-Based Reporting and the Bimodal Matrix, there is a need to bring people together more intentionally and inclusively to examine shared goals and next steps. Beginning this fall, FPS will request participation from a dedicated, secondary group of educators, administrators, and instructional leaders to collaborate and explore grading practices that best support student learning, consistency, and transparency.

FPS staff recognize that student success goes beyond academics. That’s why they are committed to supporting the whole child through Multi-Tiered System of Supports. Progress was made this year in refining the District's MTSS-SEB (Social, Emotional, Behavioral) framework. MTSS-SEB represents an intentional shift from the former MTSS-B model - focused primarily on behavior - toward a more comprehensive, whole-child approach.

The FPS Calendar Committee met over the course of multiple meetings to develop the 2026–27 school calendar. The committee was comprised of teachers, parents, principals, students, district office representatives, a Fargo Education Association member, support staff, and a School Board member. Read more about the process of creating the calendar and see the approved 2026-27 calendar.

When classes break for summer, work starts on Fargo Public Schools' buildings. Over the next few months, FPS will tackle many capital‑improvement projects spanning multiple facilities in the District. The focus is simple: safer, more efficient learning environments that serve students, staff and community for decades to come.

Fargo Public Schools announces the assignment of Tera Sistad as principal of Early Childhood Special Education. She will assume the position for the 2025-26 school year on July 1 from Donna Johnson, who is retiring.

Fargo Public Schools' libraries are transitioning from their current Destiny library catalog system to Insignia Library System - a move that will bring improved features, streamlined management, and meaningful cost savings for our District.

FPS is proud to share that its 2024–25 Level of Determination Report Card reflects meaningful progress in its commitment to supporting students with disabilities. Issued annually by the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction, the LoD Report Card evaluates how school districts are implementing the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Read more about key improvements during the 2024-25 school year and areas for continued growth.

The business services department is tasked with balancing a complex budget, one that supports more than 11,000 students, employs more than 2,000 staff members, and ensures every dollar is spent wisely to Educate and Empower All Students to Succeed. FPS is in a difficult budget cycle, like other school districts in North Dakota, preparing next year’s operating budget while facing two major unknowns: unresolved state legislation and unsettled teacher contract negotiations.

Summer EBT will be available to eligible families in North Dakota this summer. This program provides additional help for families with children to buy nutritious food when school is not in session. The benefit is $120 per eligible school-aged child and must be used within 122 days of issuance. Most families will get these benefits automatically, but some will need to apply.

Fargo Public Schools has been named one of United Way of Cass Clay's Top 50 Generous Workplaces. More than 650 businesses partner with United Way every year. These businesses serve as a role model for corporate social responsibility which in turn creates a culture of caring among their employees.

The FPS Self-Directed Academy (SDA) is now enrolling students in grades 5-8 for Fall 2025. Students who may be a good fit for SDA possess intrinsic motivation to learn, set personal goals, and take ownership of their own learning. The SDA learning model is built on the principle that learning should be self-directed, competency-based, and not confined by traditional time constraints.

FPS students are first introduced to languages in seventh grade in the World Language Survey course that introduces language-learning and exposure to the four languages that are taught in the District. FPS offers French, German, Latin and Spanish starting with students in eighth grade and continues through level 4 at the high school. Language study provides many opportunities and benefits for students. Studies show that learning a language can enhance memory, problem-solving skills, and cognitive flexibility.

Members of the FPS Standards-Based Instruction team attended the North Dakota Science of Reading Explicit Instruction Academy, deepening their understanding of research-backed practices outlined in “Explicit Instruction: Effective and Efficient Teaching" by Anita Archer and Charles Hughes. The training emphasized that even experienced educators benefit from ongoing learning — in Archer’s words, “How well I teach = how well they learn.”

Fargo Public Schools anticipates 847 kindergarteners in its elementary schools for the 2025-26 school year per enrollment projections. As of the end of March, only 408 students have been registered. To ensure FPS can provide the best possible start for every child, families must register their kindergarteners right away. Early registration allows the District to plan appropriately for fall. 

The community has the power to help support visual and fine arts in FPS simply by recycling aluminum cans with the Arts CAN Do program. Funds raised directly benefit arts programs in FPS. Recycling receptacles are located at many recycling centers around town.

March is Theatre in Our Schools Month, a time to recognize and celebrate the vital role theatre education plays in shaping students and strengthening communities. Theatre programs foster creativity, confidence, and collaboration. These skills benefit students moving forward as they continue their education and enter the workforce.

The Board Planning Committee exists to make sure the full Board has all the information it needs to make decisions regarding FPS resources and physical assets. In addition to overseeing the District’s budget, the Planning Committee works with administration to develop, update, and implement our long-range financial and facilities plans.