BISMARCK — Morgan Forness, Central Cass Public School superintendent, has been appointed by Gov. Kelly Armstrong to the State Board of Public School Education according to an announcement on Thursday, Jan. 29, from State School Superintendent Levi Bachmeier.

Forness succeeds Bachmeier, who was formerly one of six board members who represent groups of counties on the board. Forness will represent Barnes, Cass, Grand Forks, Griggs, Nelson, Steele and Traill counties. Forness will serve the remainder of Bachemeier’s term which ends June 30, 2030.

Bachmeier succeeded Kirsten Baesler as superintendent of public instruction in November.

The Board of Public School Education normally meets 10 times a year, deciding requests by school districts to transfer property, reorganize or dissolve. The board also oversees the state’s six regional education associations and the North Dakota K-12 Education Coordination Council which encourages collaboration among education stakeholders, supports education innovation initiatives, and makes policy recommendations to the state Legislature.

Forness was appointed by Armstrong from a list of candidates submitted by the presidents of North Dakota United, the North Dakota Council of Education Leaders and the North Dakota School Boards Association.