Three new Grand Forks schools generate excitement in superintendent's update to the community

Oct. 25—GRAND FORKS — Superintendent Terry Brenner outlined a litany of successes of the Grand Forks school system in his "School District Report to the Community" presentation Wednesday, Oct. 25, at the Alerus Center, but likely sparking the most excitement is the pending construction of three new schools in the next few years.

The building projects under development are the Career Impact Academy, a new Twining Elementary and Middle School at Grand Forks Air Force Base, and a new Valley Middle School.

In May, voters approved a $79 million referendum for construction of the new Valley Middle School — to be built west of the current school — and a new central kitchen facility serving the district at the Mark Sanford Education Center. The facility is housed at Valley Middle School. The referendum also included significant security upgrades in buildings districtwide.

Citing the progress made — with support from businesses, organizations and individuals throughout the area — to build the $27 million Career Impact Center, Brenner said the facility will provide students with career pathways upon graduation, and welcome adults already in the workforce who wish to acquire knowledge and technical skills to advance their careers.

More than $11 million was raised in 72 days to qualify for a $10 million matching grant from the state for this project, he said. The effort was spearheaded by the Grand Forks Region Economic Development Corporation.

"In my four decades in this profession, never have I been associated with such positive synergy between so many stakeholders across the community to bring this project to a reality," Brenner said.

About the proposed $65 million Twining school on the air base, he said no local tax money will be used to fund that school.

In another example of educational innovation, Brenner announced that district officials are considering the development of a "virtual school" that would serve mostly students in grades 9-12. Such an option could be available as early as the start of the 2024-25 school year, he said.

The superintendent also cited the school district's ranking by Forbes as one of the top five employers in North Dakota, a distinction it shares with UND, he said.

In his speech to a gathering of about 150 people at the early-morning event hosted by The Chamber of Commerce Grand Forks/East Grand Forks, Brenner also touched on challenges the district has navigated and continues to address.

In 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted school activities, the district pivoted within 10 business days to remote learning, a shift not met with universal approval.

"It's been challenging to respond to external pressures" that would not serve the students' best interests, Brenner said.

In recent years, teacher recruitment and retention has become an increasingly difficult hurdle.

University and college teacher preparation programs are not meeting the district's needs, he said, "so we turned to UND" to create a program designed especially for Grand Forks teachers.

In August, 16 educators began working to attain a master's degree while continuing to work as teachers.

Brenner cited the "landmark compensation" package, approved by the School Board earlier this year, which will provide a 13% increase in wages for teachers over the next two years, he said. "That's a $7 million investment."

The district has also addressed the teacher shortage by recruiting international teachers, Brenner said. Over the past two years, 37 international teachers have joined the school system.

"Domestic talent is always our first priority," he said, but the pool of applicants is often low or non-existent.

Also, "behavioral challenges" are evident at the classroom level, he said.

Chronic absenteeism grew during the pandemic and continues to grow, Brenner said, noting that the district is exploring ways to address the problem, the roots of which can be traced in part to school anxiety, mental health issues and isolation.

Teachers and other school staff "are challenged by social media more than at any time in their careers," Brenner said.

Academically, the school district ranks in the upper third statewide, "with the least regression," he said. However, for example, 39% of first-graders are proficient in reading, a figure that is in line with schools statewide, "but is far from where we need to be."

Sixty-nine percent of the high schools' seniors are "choice-ready" — meaning, ready to enter the military, a career or college — according to state measurements, Brenner said.

But that figure is probably inaccurately low because of the way the data is reported, said Jon Strandell, principal of Grand Forks Central High School.

Ivona Todorovic, a Red River High School English language teacher who was named 2023 North Dakota Teacher of the Year, also addressed the audience. She emphasized the importance of education, change and diversity, pillars that will "become increasingly vital, guiding us through exciting, but uncertain times."

An emigrant from Bosnia, she said, "after almost 29 years living in Grand Forks, this is home."

"We must prepare the next generation for uncertainties that lie ahead," Todorovic said.

The role of the educator is "nurturing the spirit of curiosity and adaptability" in students, she said, noting that the community gains strength in its diversity.

"As the saying goes, we may not have it all together, but together we have it all."

At the close of the event, Brenner invited attendees to view the displays in the Northern Valley Career Expo, in adjacent rooms at the Alerus, and see the many exhibitors and sessions prepared for the 2,100 high school students who were expected there later that morning.

Now in its 10th year, the Expo — organized by the Grand Forks Region Economic Development Corporation — exposes students from northwestern Minnesota and northeastern North Dakota to a vast array of careers and job opportunities in this region.

As the crowd thinned, Barry Wilfahrt, president and CEO of The Chamber, said this was the first time his organization hosted Brenner and his "School District Report to the Community," modeled somewhat after UND President Andy Armacost's annual "Wake Up to UND" event.

"(The district) is building three new schools," Wilfahrt said. "The community needs to know what they are doing."

The event was informative and entertaining, he said, noting that he was pleased students were showcased, including the drum lines from Red River and Grand Forks Central high schools; a choir singing the national anthem; soloist Ashtyn Auch, Grand Forks Central senior reprising a song from last season's SPA production, "Mamma Mia;" and other student musicians.

"There are so many good things going on," Wilfahrt said. "It makes you proud of your community."