About Us
The Grand Forks and Grand Forks Air Force Base Public School Districts work together in a unique arrangement to serve approximately 7,400 students who attend schools in the two communities. Approximately 1,600 people are employed, including over 750 teachers and over 850 support and administrative staff. Two grades 9-12 high schools, one alternative high school, three grades 6-8 middle schools, 10 elementary schools, one combined elementary and middle school, and one Head Start Program comprise the arrangement of the schools.
The schools of the two districts expect and receive a strong performance from the students. This is possible because of a rich curriculum design led by highly qualified teachers. Family and community support is strong and instrumental in the success of the schools. Emphasis is given to lower class size, curriculum, staff qualifications, and student achievement. The result is 96%+ average daily attendance, well-behaved students, safe AND comfortable schools, and academic results that exceed those of the state and nation.
A Note from the Superintendent
Welcome to the Grand Forks and Grand Forks Air Force Base School Districts! I am humbled and grateful to serve as the 19th superintendent in communities that fervently support public education along with academic, co-curricular, and extra-curricular activities. There is no better place to live, work, and play than our vibrant university city, which has so much to offer.
If you are new to Grand Forks, we welcome you. If you are a returning family, thank you for allowing us to be a part of your life in this beautiful city. As a parent and community member, I am thrilled with the year-round activities and offerings for K-12 students. These experiences are either driven by the school district, sponsored by the Grand Forks Park District, or through various other community-led organizations. Truly, there is something for everyone!
Looking to the future, and with the support of voters on May 16, 2023, we are in the process of constructing a new $55 million Valley Middle School, immediately to the west of the existing building. The anticipated move-in date is December 2025/January 2026, and the guaranteed maximum pricing came in $2 million under budget. Inclusive of this successful referendum is a new Child Nutrition Kitchen, which will be home-based at the Mark Sanford Education Center, with a prospective completion date of November 2024. The guaranteed maximum pricing for this project came in over $600,000 under budget. Additionally, voters supported an $18 million investment for safety and security upgrades at all of our school campuses, ranging from relocating school offices to main access points to technology upgrades that enhance safety and security. Work on these projects will occur over the next few school years. Finally, the district continues to move forward with HVAC and air quality upgrades at all applicable schools, bringing us closer to having air conditioning in all learning environments.
A new Career Impact Academy, funded in part by private businesses, government entities, and a matching state grant, is scheduled to open in Fall 2025. With new course programming addressing workforce shortages and emerging jobs of the future, the academy will offer contemporary courses in STEM, engineering, precision agriculture, expanded medical careers, and culinary arts.
Through a federal grant and increased Impact Aid revenue (money in lieu of property taxes for military families residing on the Grand Forks Air Force Base), a new Nathan Twining Elementary & Middle School is in the planning and design phases, with an anticipated groundbreaking ceremony sometime between Spring 2025 and Fall 2025. There are numerous moving parts to this process, so timelines may change. The good news is we are one of ten schools on military installations across the country that may gain access to $760 million in federal dollars.
This school year, we will reboot our Strategic Plan, which is at the end of its five-year cycle, having addressed three key areas: Academics, Mental Health Support Systems, and Resource and Facility Management. Additionally, we will engage a newly formed committee to address district demographics and the future of boundary line shifts.
As we aim to become a lighthouse school district in the upper Midwest, thanks to the work of our incredibly talented educators and support staff across 17 campuses, I welcome your input, feedback, and perspective as our partner in this journey.
Professionally yours,
Terry Brenner, Ed. D.