SchoolTalk
FPS e-Newsletter for October 29, 2026
Cabinet Column - Be Informed and Make Your Voice Heard: Vote on November 3
As the third-largest school district in North Dakota, Fargo Public Schools serves more than 11,000 learners across a diverse range of schools, programs, and learning environments. The district's responsibility is to ensure every learner has access to the resources, support, and experiences needed to learn, grow, and achieve. If the vote passes, it will provide FPS with the opportunity to begin looking forward to its future. It will allow the district to be flexible and adaptable to meet the changing needs of Fargo's community, families, and learners.
Read more about the FPS general fund mill levy question that will be on the November 3 general election and the implications of the outcome of the vote in this Cabinet Column by Superintendent Dr. Cory Steiner.
Election Day is Next Tuesday; Early Voting is Open Now
Election Day is next Tuesday, November 3 and early voting is open now. Make sure you have your voting plan!
Voting is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day, next Tuesday, November 3. View the list of voting locations in Cass County.
Early voting is available now through this Saturday, October 31. Early voting locations are the Ramada Inn, FARGODOME, Hartl Ag Building at the Red River Valley Fairgrounds, and the Fargo Parks Sports Center. Early voting hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday at all locations except FARGODOME.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a “yes” vote mean?
Fargo Public Schools (FPS) will receive tax dollars based on the true assessed value of individual property. FPS will continue to provide quality educational opportunities for all students in the District.
What does a “no” vote mean?
FPS will be frozen at the actual property tax dollars collected in the 2027-28 fiscal year, which means the District will no longer receive additional general fund tax dollars based on the true assessed value of individual property as the city grows or property values change.
What impact will there be on students if the vote fails?
There will be a direct impact on programming and services provided to FPS learners and families. The District will need to make budget adjustments, including cuts, reductions and reorganizations to programs, staffing, and services.
See more Frequently Asked Questions on the Vote 2026 FAQs Page.
Feature Column - Celebrating Native American Education Month
November is Native American Heritage Month and serves as an opportunity to honor the histories, languages, cultures, and contributions of Native American people. Throughout the month, educators and students are invited to learn together, build understanding, and celebrate the Native communities represented in our schools.
Read more about Native American Heritage Month and resources for learning about Native American history and culture in this Feature Column by Native American Education Coordinator Melody Staebner.
National Principals Month
October is National Principals Month! This month is a tribute to the pivotal role principals play in leading our schools and shaping the future of our students. Celebrate the final days of National Principals Month by thanking a principal for their hard work!
Cross Country Champion
Congratulations to Davies High School's Luka Rout on winning the North Dakota Class A Boys Cross Country State Championship on October 24 at Parkhurst Recreational Park in Jamestown! Rout set a state meet record by finishing in 15 minutes, 13.6 seconds on the way to his first-place finish.
September Catalyst Certifications
Congratulations to all Fargo Public Schools educators who have become Catalyst Certified during the 2026-27 school year. View the complete list of FPS educators who were certified in September.
The Catalyst Approach is a comprehensive professional development and implementation model based on observation of more than 50,000 classrooms and school-wide common spaces. It aims to accelerate deep implementation of skills that lead to the creation of improved classroom and school leadership, relationships, and culture.
Employee Spotlight - Beanie Stotts
Meet Discovery Middle School Band Director Beanie Stotts in this week's Employee Spotlight.
The Fargo Public Schools Human Capital Department wants to shine a spotlight on its valuable employees who have a tremendous positive impact on the District's learners, educators, and families. The District's educators are crucial to achieving our goal of educating and empowering all students to succeed and are dedicated to the idea that we are stronger together. HC has selected FPS staff members who are deserving of greater recognition and will highlight them each week.
Brian Woelfel's 'Why'
This school year, Fargo Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Cory Steiner challenged all FPS educators to develop a 'Why' statement as a reminder of why they choose to work in the education field and what they aim to accomplish through their work going forward. Each week, FPS is highlighting an educator's 'Why' in this newsletter.
South High School Construction & Woods Instructor Brian Woelfel's 'Why'
To help our students grow into community leaders who make the world around them a better place.
I will make Fargo South a place where students achieve personal growth by helping them succeed in academics, activities like wrestling, and in the pursuit of local, high-paying, and dignified careers in the Building Trades.
2025-26 FPS Annual Report
The Fargo Public Schools 2025-26 Annual Report is a summary of the District’s efforts to carry out its mission of “educating and empowering all students to succeed” during the 2025-26 school year.
Read the report for an in-depth examination of the District’s learners, educators, schools, departments, and programs and a celebration of their achievements. The report also includes key statistics regarding staffing, budget, demographics, and assessment data.
Thank you for supporting Fargo Public Schools and allowing the District to serve its students and families and provide an exceptional educational experience.
No School November 11
There will be no school on Wednesday, November 11 for the Veterans Day holiday. Classes will resume as regularly scheduled on Thursday, November 12.
Don't Forget to Fall Back on November 1
Don't forget to "fall back" and set your clocks back an hour as Daylight Saving Time ends at 2 a.m. this Sunday, November 1 and we return to standard time.
Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow!
Thinking about staying home? Research shows learners that miss more than 10 days in a school year are 20% less likely to graduate on time. By coming to school each day they aren't sick, students stay on track for graduation.
Fargo Public Schools encourages families to help learners be in school every day. Remember, every additional day a student is in school creates another opportunity to learn, participate, and succeed. Learn more about the importance of attending school every day.
South Musical - Punk Rock Girl!
South High School presents the musical Punk Rock Girl! on Thursday-Sunday, November 5-8 in the South Theater, with Thursday-Saturday performances at 7:30 p.m. and the Sunday performance at 2 p.m.
Punk Rock Girl! features a score of popular songs written and made famous by female artists and female-fronted bands, including Blondie, Pat Benatar, Avril Lavigne, Joan Jett, P!nk, Gwen Stefani and more. Sixteen-year-old Angela Quivers is a perfectionist who never takes chances and feels like there’s no place where she belongs … until she meets Proxi, a teenager who pulls her into a world of grungy guitars, shocking secrets, and big, loud, messy emotions.
Tickets are $6.80 for students and $9.07 for adults and can be purchased on the Fargo Public Schools Online Theater Box Office website. FPS Activity Pass holders are eligible for free tickets to see each play and musical produced at FPS high schools. Please complete this form to claim your complimentary tickets.
FPS Federal Credit Union Continues Support of FPS Development Foundation
Thank you to the Fargo Public Schools Federal Credit Union for its generosity and continued investment in the success of Fargo Public Schools learners through its support of the Fargo Public Schools Development Foundation!
The FPS Federal Credit Union is now in the fourth year of its generous pledge of $10,000 per year to the Foundation, helping provide essential resources and enriching educational opportunities for FPS learners. This year's donation will also serve as a matching gift for Giving Hearts Day on February 11, 2027, encouraging additional community support and making an even greater impact.
School Board Schedule & Links
The Board of Education of the City of Fargo meets in regular session on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month, beginning at 5:30 p.m. To find Board meeting agendas and schedules, a broadcast link, an archive of past meetings, and more, visit the Board of Education webpages on the FPS website.
Read the Board Briefs from the October 27 regular meeting of the School Board.
Mayor Visit
Fargo Mayor Josh Boschee visited Joe Leier's kindergarten class at Eagles Elementary School on October 20. The mayor read stories to the kindergarteners, spoke to them about the importance of being involved in their community and how they can be good citizens, and answered their questions about what it is like to run a city. (Photo courtesy City of Fargo)
Pumpkin Wars
Clara Barton Hawthorne Elementary School and FPS District Office educators enjoyed a friendly competition to create the best pumpkin decorations in Pumpkin Wars. Learners voted on their favorite pumpkins and had a chance to win them at the school's Fall Festival. (Photos courtesy Rebecca Folden)
Reading Forts
Ms. Schiotz's second grade class at Washington Elementary School celebrated filling their Star Jar by building forts in their classroom using supplies from home. The learners used flashlights to read books with their friends in their forts. (Photo courtesy Rachel Kenowski)
Speaking Skills
North High School learners from Mrs. Livingston's communications class visited Washington Elementary School to practice their public speaking skills. The high schoolers walked across the street to Washington to read books to first and second graders. (Photo courtesy Rachel Kenowski)
Career Assembly
Jefferson Elementary School hosted a career assembly featuring guest speakers from the local community who shared their career experiences in their fields. Presenters included a baker, pilot, fitness instructor, meteorologist, and a performer. (Photos courtesy Bernadette Crist Pinotti)
Hawaiian Islands
Fifth graders in Mrs. Kennedy’s class at Washington Elementary School practiced factors and multiples by completing a variety of tasks based on the different Hawaiian islands. Students snorkeled, kayaked, surfed, and stopped at the shaved ice (flavored water) stand. While they kayaked, they were even able to stop at the temporary tattoo parlor. (Photos courtesy Rachel Kenowski)
Choice Ready Resource Fair
South High School students took an active role in exploring their futures at the Choice Ready Resource Fair. Learners connected directly with college admissions representatives, military personnel, and workforce and career professionals, asking questions, gathering information, and exploring the many pathways available after graduation. (Photo courtesy Adrienne Eider)
One School, One Book
Lincoln Elementary School held an assembly to kick off the One School, One Book whole-school reading adventure. The assembly showcased the book Lincoln learners will be reading, The Wild Robot by Peter Brown. Each learner was given a copy of the book along with a reading schedule to read as a family. The book will also be read daily in every classroom, with follow up questions each morning on the school announcements. The North High School Robotics team was at the assembly to demonstrate a robot they created. (Photo courtesy Shannon Lawrence)
BioScience Summit
South High School advance science learners attended the BioScience Summit at the Avalon Events Center on October 21. The learners spoke to representatives from local colleges about their STEM programs, saw cutting-edge STEM equipment from local companies, and learned about local opportunities in the STEM fields. (Photo courtesy Michelle Strand)
David Snyder Performance
Piano performer David Snyder performed for all grades at Ben Franklin Middle School on Wednesday, October 21. Snyder is a North Dakota native whose one-man piano show has been seen across the country and on America's Got Talent. He teaches students to write and improvise their own music. During the performance, he invited Ben Franklin learners to join him on stage. (Photo courtesy Jaime Dougherty)
Rotary Dictionaries
Fargo/West Fargo Rotary Clubs gifted every Centennial Elementary School third grader their own dictionary. The learners will use their dictionaries at school and take them home at the end of the year. One third grader got an extra surprise when his grandfather was the one handing out the dictionaries. (Photo courtesy Sue Smith)
Trumpet Guest Instructor
Concordia College Trumpet Professor Dr. Erika Izaguirre visited Mrs. Carlson’s sixth grade trumpet class at Ben Franklin Middle School. The sixth grade trumpeters learned about proper trumpet technique, including how to use posture and playing position to best set themselves up for a great trumpet sound. Dr. Izaguirre also treated the learners to a special trumpet performance. (Photo courtesy Kirstin Carlson)
Extra Yard for Teachers
Clara Barton Hawthorne Physical Education Teacher Mr. Mack was surprised by Mrs. Scholand with a special T-shirt and a football from the College Football Playoff Foundation's Extra Yard program. The program aims to elevate the teaching profession by inspiring and empowering teachers. (Photo courtesy Rebecca Folden)
Proloquo2Go App
Learners in Lincoln Elementary School's Extended Resource Room practiced using the Proloquo2Go app through screen mirroring from an iPad to practice conversing with each other this week. Learners in the ERR room have been working on talking to one another in sentences and making simple requests such as "I want" statements and "I feel" statements. Accessing this technology in this way allows for the educator to model directly on the application to their students. (Photo courtesy Shaylie Fry)
Rotary Student Presentations
Davies High School learner Andrew Roscoe and Dakota High School learner Hideli Mosqueda Campos shared about themselves at a Rotary Club meeting. They each gave a 3-5 minute presentation about who they are, what they participate in, what they plan for their future, why they are proud of their school, and why they are proud of Fargo. (Photo courtesy Travis Christopher)
Speed Dating with Books
Discovery Middle School eighth graders found love in the library as they participated in Speed Dating with Books with Mrs. Donat. They had a short amount of time to get to know several different books. All learners found a book date by the end of class in the hopes of diving into a committed relationship with a book they will hopefully remember forever. (Photo courtesy Patty Donat)
United in Song
Discovery Middle School's eighth grade band, orchestra, and choir shared their musical talents with guests from the local community in a joint concert featuring all three ensembles. Residents from local retirement facilities, parents, guardians, and select other community members were invited to the “United in Song” concert. All three ensembles performed separately and then combined for a number featuring all three.
Fix it Forward
Early Out Team Building
During the early release day on October 21, eighth graders on Team T at Ben Franklin Middle School were give a choice of sessions to promote team building and connect with other learners with the same interests. The learners could choose to participate in fun activities including a ping pong tournament, bingo, puzzles, chess, crafts, and more. (Photo courtesy Jessica Rice)
Pumpkin Pathology
In celebration of Halloween, learners in the Health Science 2 class at Davies High School participated in the Pumpkin Pathology Project. Learners decorated pumpkins and then placed them in the team center along with a patient chart describing their signs and symptoms. They then read the charts and tried to diagnose the pumpkin patients. (Photo courtesy Amanda Ehresmann)
Mickey and Minnie
Medical Laboratory Science
Guitar Guest
Kennedy Elementary School learners had a special musical guest. Guitarist Sam Swanson visited the school and performed on the guitar and explained all of the different types of music that can be played on the instrument. (Photo courtesy Jodi Dirk)
Landform Dioramas
Learners in the RAAISE room at Ben Franklin Middle School combined their artistic and geologic skills to bring landforms to life. The learners created dioramas of different types of landforms they have learned about in class. (Photo courtesy Ligaya Pandan)
Cobber Visit
Members of the Concordia College women's basketball team visited Explorer Academy. Learners played basketball trivia, compared heights with the hoopers, collected autographs, and participated in a question and answer session. Explorer Academy learners will get to see the Cobbers play in an exhibition game against NDSU. (Photo courtesy Jayla Eagleson)
CBH Fall Festival
Learners and families got dressed up to celebrate the season at the Clara Barton Hawthorne Fall Festival. Guests enjoyed bouncy houses, music, a Brainy Ink potion-making station, and more. They also had the opportunity to win a decorated pumpkin with a donation to the Husky Hutch critical needs pantry. (Photo courtesy Rebecca Folden)
College Application Day
More than 80 South High School learners took advantage of College Application Day on October 16. Seniors were able to complete one or more college applications with the help of South's counselors, career advisor, and college admissions representatives. This month, students received one $35 college application fee paid for by the Bank of North Dakota. (Photo courtesy Brenda Koppy)
Fargo Public Schools - SchoolTalk
Email: comments@fargo.k12.nd.us
Website: www.fargo.k12.nd.us
Location: 700 7th Street South, Fargo, ND
Phone: 701.446.1000