Breaking News

Letters to the Editor

Bill would divert money from public schools

Brenda Seehafer, Rolla As a leader of my local association of educators, I can tell you that our members are regularly talking about what is happening at the state Capitol, and the potential effects that bills will have on their professional lives, their classrooms and, most importantly, their kids. We are discussing bills like Rep. Cory’s efforts to establish “educational reimbursement programs,” also known as vouchers. Past legislative sessions have seen efforts like these under different names, like “education savings accounts,” but the intent is always the same: ...

Public funds are for public schools

Tyler Hancock, Minot So in reading the painfully biased article “Parents call for school choice” (nice title, by the way; are you claiming that all parents are calling for school choice? Because it sounds like you’re claiming that all parents are calling for school choice), I noticed some issues. First of all, you obfuscate a major issue with the bill by using vague language: “the fiscal note for the bill would be closer to $61 million than the $24 million listed for the bill for the biennium.” Why not just say the bill would cost taxpayers $61 million? Because it’s too ...

School lunch bill excludes private schools

LaMonte Jacobson, Bismarck If there was one positive thing that came out of the pandemic, every child in school was provided lunch at no cost through federal funding. Now that this program has ended, there is a bill before the legislature to provide lunch at no cost to public school children. Unlike the federal program, the bill excludes children that attend a private school. Folks that send their children to private school already fund the public schools through property taxes and get little or no benefit for their contribution. I’m not sure what chance this bill has to be ...

Childcare crisis impacts families, businesses

Alexa Ducioame, Fargo It’s no secret, ND has faced a childcare crisis for a long time. I share my story as a snapshot into what families are facing and to implore the ND legislature to act now. My daughter (2.5) has been on a waitlist for our preferred center for 3 years. My son (1) was able to get in at 6 months, but there’s still 700 people waiting. Their first Center had 25 days where we unexpectedly had to stay home due to weather or staffing in February through April 2022. I’m an engineer and my husband is in IT, and we did our best to work from home, but it was not ...

SB 2310 needed to address child care crisis

Robin Fuehrer Bismarck As the director of Community Church Child Care in Bismarck I see first hand how the child care crisis is impacting both providers and families. I am, yet again, in the middle of a hiring process at my Center. My previous hiring phase was 6 months ago. I had over 100 applicants, was in contact with 68 of them, managed to schedule interviews with a dozen or so, had 6 of them not show the interview, hired 4 and had 2 of those no-show either the background check or their first day of work. Of the two left one is still with me and the other has moved on to another ...

HB 1281 is opportunity to right a wrong

Kara Gloe, Fargo HB 1281 is an opportunity to right a wrong. The current law is discriminatory and codifies stigma faced by people living with HIV/AIDS. Similar laws don’t exist for herpes, hepatitis, or other STIs with no cure. Considering there have only been three convictions under this law, it’s a solution to a problem North Dakota has never had. Frankly, it does more harm than good. As a mental health therapist serving people living with HIV/AIDS in North Dakota, every client discusses the stigma. For many, someone discovering their status without their consent is a fear ...