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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.

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. 

The Association of School Business Officials International announced that the Board of Education of the City of Fargo has been awarded the Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting. This honor recognizes school districts that uphold the highest standards of financial reporting and transparency. The school district earned the Certificate of Excellence for its exemplary Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024.

There will be NO SCHOOL from Monday, March 17 through Friday, March 21 for Spring Break. Classes will resume as regularly scheduled on Monday, March 24.

Career and Technical Education courses play a crucial role in preparing students for the workforce by providing them with practical skills, industry knowledge, and career readiness. Effective instruction in these courses requires a strong foundation in Tier One instruction — high-quality, evidence-based teaching strategies that ensure all students receive essential skills and knowledge.

March is Music in Our Schools Month. FPS traditionally has had and continues to cultivate an especially strong music program, so strong that it has been named one of the National Association of Music Merchants' “Best Communities for Music Education” for 15 consecutive years and 21 out of the last 25. Because of the dedication of all stakeholders associated with FPS, our students continue to be recipients of and active participants in high-quality, robust, rigorous, and enriching music experiences.

AD-Ventures is a district publication to help families find activities for their children throughout our community. It is published on the first of each month September-May. 

The Fargo Board of Education announces the selection of Dr. Cory Steiner as the next superintendent of schools for Fargo Public Schools.

This fall, FPS asked community members to complete a Climate and Culture Survey. Insights gained from the survey results play a critical role in shaping FPS strategies and ensuring that the District meets the needs of our students and their families. Community feedback directly influences District plans, aligning with its 2024-25 Unified Strategic and Operational Plan. Read more about what was learned from the Fall Climate and Culture Survey and how those results are shaping the future planning of FPS. 

Since 2008, FPS and TNT Kids Fitness & Gymnastics have worked together to provide inclusive physical education opportunities for students with disabilities. What began as a vision to integrate movement-based learning into the school system has evolved into a robust partnership that continues to empower students of all abilities. In this feature Column FPS Director of Special Education Shelby DiFonzo discusses the origins, impact and future of the collaboration with TNT Kids Fitness & Gymnastics CEO Kim Pladson.

Science is more than a subject - it is a way of thinking, questioning, and understanding the world. In this Feature Column, Science Facilitator Allie Kollman highlights the passion and insights of FPS teachers and students who bring science to life in the District's classrooms every day.

The FPS Development Foundation is celebrating its 25th anniversary with the Swing for Success Suite Shots Golf Scramble from 6:30-9:30 p.m. Thursday, March 27. The entry fee for the four-person, 9-hole scramble is $100 per player, which includes prizes, food, and non alcoholic beverages. Non-golfers can come for the fun for $35 to enjoy the non-golf festivities. Enjoy delicious food and drinks from Suite Shots while supporting a great cause - every dollar raised will help enrich educational opportunities for FPS students.

Sheds built by FPS Construction 1 students for sale. Phots are for reference shape and style, not the actual color. Buyers responsible for pick up or delivery by June 15. to Place order, call Idette at 701-446-1040 or grahami@fargo.k12.nd.us.

Congratulations to McKinley Elementary School Positive Behavior Technician on being named the 2025 FPS Support Staff of the Year!

Big changes are coming to Advanced Placement testing this year. District centralization of AP testing means that locations outside of FPS school buildings are needed to accommodate the hundreds of high school students who will take these exams in pursuit of college credit during the first two full weeks of May. Read more about the process of preparing for off-site Advanced Placement Testing.

High School Physical Education is embarking on an innovative journey to transform the way students engage with their health and fitness with the Human Performance class, a newly developed program focused on lifelong personal wellness and fitness goal achievement. This inclusive class will be offered throughout the school day, ensuring accessibility for all students, while also providing targeted support for student athletes through sport-specific training.

As legislative sessions progress, many bills under consideration will impact K-12 education funding. A resounding theme has been property tax reduction and there are a multitude of bills on the subject. We can expect some form of property tax relief, which may come through the state funding formula, property value caps, mill levy caps, or a combination of reductions.

FPS teachers work together in Professional Learning Communities to improve teaching and help students succeed. PLCs use teamwork and problem-solving to focus on analyzing student work and making a plan to reteach using student data. Evidence-based reporting plays a big role in making these meetings more effective by helping teachers make smart decisions based on common formative assessment data. Read more about how EBR helps guide teachers' decisions in this Feature Column by New Teacher Mentor Program Coordinator Joy-El Johnsen and watch the

February signals the beginning of preparations in the Activities Department for the numerous tournaments hosted in Fargo each year at the close of the winter sports season. The Metro Area Tournament Committee, a non-profit that serves as the umbrella organization for managing tournaments in Fargo and West Fargo, is hosting the State Wrestling Tournament and the State AA Boys and Girls Basketball Tournament in Fargo this year. Read more about the tournaments hosted locally in this column by Director of Student Activities Todd Olson.

The three comprehensive high schools at FPS introduced Proficiency Days in the Spring of 2024 as a structured academic intervention for students with missing assessments and/or failing grades. These designated days are designed to provide students with the opportunity to complete essential assessments, receive targeted support, and demonstrate their level of proficiency on missing or retake assessments. Read more about what the data says about the effectiveness of Proficiency Days in this column by Science Facilitator Allie Kollman.

February marks Career and Technical Education Month, a time to recognize the powerful impact of CTE programs in shaping the future workforce. In North Dakota, the month is celebrated with the theme Igniting Potential, Inspiring Excellence. Its intent is to showcase how CTE empowers students with the skills, knowledge, and experiences needed for success in high-demand careers. Read more about CTE Month and CTE programming in FPS

Summer School registration is now open! FPS offers opportunities for students to participate in programs focused on academics, athletics, arts, and more! See the Summer School 2025 offerings and register today!

Kindergarten registration is open for the 2025-26 school year! Registration is a two step process. Child must be 5 years old by July 31, 2025 to attend.

In recent years, the FPS Speech-Language Pathologists have participated in panel presentations with various regional universities, sharing insights about their experiences working in schools. These panels, aimed at students in Communication Sciences and Disorders programs or in the Department of Speech-Language Pathology programs, provided an in-depth look at the role of an SLP across different educational levels in public schools.