Education is a priority for North Dakotans, which is why our state spends a lot on it. With a population of just over 760,000, North Dakota has no fewer than 11 institutions of higher education. Even after dramatic post-oil-boom spending cuts, we’re #8 in the nation when it comes to per-student spending on higher education.…
DPI Spokesman Calls State Auditor “Unprofessional” and “Ridiculous” While Defending School Bus Inspection Language on Website
Yesterday state Auditor Josh Gallion’s office released a report focusing on the Department of Public Instruction and school bus inspections. “State Auditor Joshua Gallion today released an audit of the North Dakota Highway Patrol which shows from July 2016 through June 2018, the agency was not following internal policies for school bus inspections, was inaccurately…
North Dakota Teacher Shortage May Not Be As Bad As Reported
“North Dakota’s shortage of teachers has gotten worse, with the highest number of unfilled posts in a decade, and a provision that would have allowed ‘community experts’ to take on educational roles appears to have failed,” the Associated Press reported earlier this week. The number cited by the AP and other media outlets for the…
USDA Program Loophole Has Taxpayers Providing A "Free Lunch" For Pretty Much Everyone
The website for the USDA’s Summer Food Service Program states it “ensures that low-income children continue to receive nutritious meals when school is not in session.” But what if I told you that at 65 locations across the state – mostly at parks and churches – the taxpayers are feeding kids and even grownups regardless of…
Superintendent Kirsten Baesler Is Not Resigning
This morning I woke up to a flood of emails and other messages from SAB readers alerting me to the fact that over night Superintendent Kirsten Baesler’s job status on Facebook switched from Superintendent of Public Instruction to former Superintendent of Public Instruction. Baesler is in the midst of a scandal over an alleged assault on her…
Bismarck Schools Sent Police To Home Of Alleged Kirsten Baesler Victim
Last night I appeared on Chris Berg’s 6:30 Point of View program on Valley News Live in Fargo to discuss the arrest of Superintendent Kirsten Baesler for allegedly assaulting her fiancee. My segment was basically a review of what I’ve reported here on the blog so far. [mks_pullquote align=”right” width=”300″ size=”24″ bg_color=”#000000″ txt_color=”#ffffff”]Tschosik was honored…
Legislature Considering Study To Wean State Off Federal Education Dollars
Last Thursday, Senate Concurrent Resolution 4012 was introduced by Senators Howard Anderson Jr., Ron Carlisle, Ralph Kilzer, and Margaret Sitte; and Representatives Vernon Laning and David Rust which would, if passed, direct: … Legislative Management to study state alternatives to the statutory and regulatory requirements placed on North Dakota schools and school districts by the…