The Minot Public School Board approved the hiring of staff to conduct the district’s STARBASE program for fifth grade students at a special virtual meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 2, after the district received an infusion of federal funding.

District Business Manager Laura Dokken informed the board the district had received notice that the STARBASE program, which had been furloughed during the government shutdown, has received more funding through Jan. 30.

Dokken said after discussion it was recommended to bring back the director, a classified position and a long-term substitute teacher at Dakota Elementary and North Plains Elementary.

STARBASE is a Department of Defense youth program which provides 25 hours of hands-on inquiry-based activities to fifth grade students around the country using a common curriculum in which students are brought to a military installation to experience STEAM activities. The fifth grade classrooms attend STARBASE ND programming continuously throughout the school year, culminating in two five-day STARBASE Summer Academies, open to all regional students who just completed their fifth grade year.

“It was on a furlough status essentially. Their fiscal year ends at the end of September, and it wasn’t funded after that, so it’s been on a pause since this fall. When we received notice, we talked about what we’re going to do if there’s another pause, but right now the recommendation is get the two elementary schools through the program,” Dokken said. “We do know there still isn’t a lot of funding projected in the budget, but we know there’s some programs that were shut down. We were one of the only programs that did continue on.”

Dokken said the issue would have to be revisited in January no matter what. Superintendent Scott Faul said the district had secured the STARBASE instructors in other positions in the spring when the funding for the program came into question, and the former director had indicated he was prepared to jump back in.

Board members Scott Louser and Bill Irmen both shared their own children had positive experiences in the program, and they favored supporting the motion, with Irmen describing it as “a worthwhile program.”

“I can report from having a fifth-grader this is her favorite part of the school year so far, and he does a fantastic job. I see no reason why we wouldn’t fund this into January and revisit again if we have to,” Louser said.

Board members Lacey Laudenschlager, Louser, and Irmen voted unanimously to approve hiring the teachers to support the program. Board President Mitch Kraft and board member Sabrina Herrmann were absent.