The District Insider
Volume 9, Issue 8 | March 2022
Eleven Students Named to Class A Academic All-State Teams
Six Grand Forks Central and five Red River high school seniors have been selected as members of the 2022 North Dakota Class A Academic All-State teams.
Sarah Hong (Red River) and Dylan Kiley (Grand Forks Central) were named to the Gold Team, Angelica Knudsen (Red River) and Grace Koepke Nelson (Grand Forks Central) were named to the Silver Team, and Elizabeth Corcoran (Red River), Olivia Olson (Red River), and Boyuan Zhang (Grand Forks Central) were named to the Bronze Team. Each of the students will receive a medallion during the televised “Parade of Academic Champions” at the Class A Basketball Tournament in Bismarck on March 11.
Dongyu Jin (Grand Forks Central), Jackson Lee (Grand Forks Central), Tanner Schiller (Red River), and Maya Zahui (Grand Forks Central) were named to the Honorable Mention Team and will each receive a certificate of merit.
The students were nominated for the All-State Teams by school administrators and competed for the honor on a state-wide basis. Students were selected on their overall grade-point averages, ACT or SAT scores, extracurricular activities, community involvement, and leadership qualities.
Biermaier Named District Activities Director
Grand Forks Public Schools has announced an administrative assignment for the 2022-2023 school year.
Michael Biermaier, currently the activities director at Thief River Falls ISD 564, has been named the activities director at Grand Forks Public Schools.
Biermaier has served in his role at Thief River Falls since July 2007. In this position, he supervises and administers all aspects of the activities department, which includes hiring, promoting, and providing leadership to all coaches and advisors for over 30 activities. He also oversees an athletics budget in excess of $850,000, as well as coordinates schedules, transportation, and contracts with officials.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in technology education from Bemidji State University, a master’s degree in education administration and leadership from the University of North Dakota, and holds an administrative (principals) license in Minnesota. He also received a doctor of chiropractic degree from Northwestern Health Science University.
The district activities director at Grand Forks Public Schools will lead, orchestrate and oversee all facets of a comprehensive, inclusive, values-based K-12 school athletics and activities program that aligns with the district’s overall vision, mission, and goals.
The administrative assignment was approved by the Grand Forks School Board on February 14.
Bina, Nelson Named School Athletics Directors
Grand Forks Public Schools has announced two administrative assignments for the 2022-2023 school year.
Tony Bina, associate principal at Red River High School, has been named athletic director at Grand Forks Central High School, and Tyler Nelson, activities director at Red River High School, has been named the athletic director at Red River High School.
Bina has served in his current role since July 2018. He has worked as an educator in a public school setting for nearly 20 years, including four years as an associate principal, five years as the activities director at Grand Forks Central, and eight years as a technology education instructor at Red River. Bina was also the head hockey coach at Grand Forks Central for eight years.
He holds a master’s degree in educational leadership and a bachelor’s degree in technology education, both from the University of North Dakota. He also has a secondary principal credential.
Nelson has been the activities director at Red River since September 2014. From 2008 to 2014, Nelson was a physical education teacher at Nathan Twining Elementary and Middle School. He has served as an assistant girls’ basketball coach at Red River since 2010 and was an assistant football coach at Red River for two years.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of North Dakota and will complete his master’s degree in educational leadership from Minnesota State University Moorhead this spring.
The athletics directors at Grand Forks Public Schools will lead, orchestrate and oversee all facets of a comprehensive, inclusive, values-based high school athletics program that aligns with the district’s overall vision, mission, and goals at the building level. They will report to the district activities director.
The administrative assignments were approved by the Grand Forks School Board on February 28. Bina and Nelson will begin in their new roles on July 1.
Notice of Election: Grand Forks Public School District #1
Notice is hereby given that the Grand Forks Public School District will hold its election on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, for the purpose of electing five (5) members of the School Board, to serve terms of four (4) years each, and to determine whether a record of the school board proceedings must be published in the official newspaper of the district (NDCC 15.1-09-31). The election will be held in conjunction with the State Primary Election at the polling places and times established by Grand Forks County.
The Board positions up for election are currently held by Doug Carpenter, Christopher Douthit, Jacqueline Hassett, Shannon Mikula, and Bill Palmiscno.
Information from the North Dakota Secretary of State on running for a school district office is found here.
Candidates interested in seeking election to the Grand Forks Public School District School Board must complete and sign the Candidate Filing Form and Statement of Interests and submit both documents to the School District Business Manager at the Mark Sanford Education Center, 2400 47th Ave. S, Grand Forks, ND 58201, no later than 4 p.m. on April 11, 2022.
The required documents are also available for pick up at the Mark Sanford Education Center.
The North Dakota School Boards Association is hosting a free Lunch & Learn webinar titled, “So, You Want to be a Board Member?” on March 16, 2022, at 12 p.m. To register, visit this website.
Online Kindergarten Pre-Registration Now Open at Grand Forks Public Schools
Grand Forks Public Schools has opened kindergarten online pre-registration for families.
Children who will reach the age of five before August 1, 2022 are eligible to enter kindergarten.
For links to required forms and additional information that will be needed at registration, please visit https://bit.ly/2022KClass.
The online pre-registration, available at https://bit.ly/2022KPreRegistration, captures student information so the school can begin student enrollment processes. This will minimize waiting time at registration, which will be held later this spring.
The elementary school boundary line map can be found at https://www.gfschools.org/site/handlers/filedownload.ashx?moduleinstanceid=10181&dataid=16384&FileName=Elem_School_Boundaries_2021.pdf
Examples of Excellence
Congratulations to Allyssa Johnson, the first Grand Forks Central High School girls' wrestling champion! Allyssa took first place in the 145-pound category (photo below courtesy Jeff Welsh).
- Congratulations to the following students for their performance at the 109th Annual NDHSAA Debate Tournament: Sudiksha Singal (Red River) - 2nd place, Division I Lincoln-Douglas Debate; Dora Dalmi (Grand Forks Central) and Amber Stephani (Grand Forks Center) - quarterfinalists, Division II Lincoln-Douglas Debate.
- Congratulations to Grand Central Station (school-based enterprise (SBE) at Grand Forks Central) and Red River Outfitters (SBE at Red River) on achieving Gold Level Certification for the 2021-2022 school year! An SBE is managed and operated by students and provides goods and services to meet the needs of the market. The achievement will be recognized during DECA's International Career Development Conference. Advisors are Laurie Salander (Grand Forks Central) and Brent Polum (Red River).
- Congratulations to the Grand Forks Public Schools singers who participated in the North Dakota American Choral Directors Association Honor Choirs, which was held February 4-5 in Bismarck. The singers were selected for participation through recorded auditions. They rehearsed with other singers from around the state under the direction of guest conductors. The weekend culminated with an afternoon performance by the NDACDA Men’s Honor Choir, NDACDA Jr. High/MS Treble Honor Choir, and the NDACDA Jr. High/MS Mixed Honor Choir.
NDACDA Men’s Honor Choir Participants
- Carter Elde, Grand Forks Central
- Kaden Knabe, Grand Forks Central
- Carter Schmisek, Grand Forks Central
NDACDA Treble Honor Choir Participants
- Nora Anderson, Red River
- Audrey Atherton, Elroy Schroeder Middle School
- Natalie Buchhop, South Middle School
- Miranda Bry, Grand Forks Central
- Madison Clark, Valley Middle School
- Ada Dachtler, Valley Middle School
- Colin Green, Valley Middle School
- Aliah Foley, Elroy Schroeder Middle School
- Ava Hager, Grand Forks Central
- Ryah Hogberg, Grand Forks Central
- Grace Kollie, Red River
- Bryn Larson, Red River
- Zoe Serna, Grand Forks Central
- Cora Sheard, Grand Forks Central
NDACDA Mixed Honor Choir
- Kenai Auch, Elroy Schroeder Middle School
- Owen Berglund, Elroy Schroeder Middle School
- Mirko Drago, Grand Forks Central
- Addison Foley, Grand Forks Central
- Jaded Halvorson, Valley Middle School
- Kolby Koerner, South Middle School
- Rowan Olmstead, Elroy Schroeder Middle School
- Oakley Oss, Grand Forks Central
- Berlyn Stewart, Red River
- Asher Suriano, Elroy Schroeder Middle School
The following students were also selected, but unable to attend the festival:
- Brooke Noffsinger, Red River
- Emma Lyste, Red River
- Josie Dodds, Elroy Schroeder Middle School
In addition, the following students were selected as alternates for the festival:
- Jack Berry, Valley Middle School
- Emerson Eastman, South Middle School
- Ruby Erickson, Elroy Schroeder Middle School
- Mairi Ferguson, Elroy Schroeder Middle School
- Josh Kliner, Grand Forks Central
- Brody Lafferty, Grand Forks Central
- Brody Melicher, Valley Middle School
- Mady Walters, Red River
- Congratulations to Red River High School, the 2022 NDHSAA Boys' Hockey State Champions! Congratulations also to Wyatt LeDuc and Carter Sproule for being named to the All-Tournament Team. LeDuc was also named Tournament MVP.
- Congratulations to the following boys' hockey players on being named to the 2022 East Region Tournament All-Conference Team: Mikey Coleman (Red River), Dillon Kuntz (Grand Forks Central), LeDuc, and Sproule.
- Congratulations to Tim Skarperud on being selected as the 2022 East Region Boys' Hockey Coach of the Year!
- Congratulations to Delani Barrett (Red River) on being named the EDC Senior Athlete of the Year in Girls Gymnastics!
- Congratulations to Kaylee Baker and Averi Greenwood for being selected to the 2022 All-EDC girls' hockey team!
Job Openings - Join Our Team!
Certified
- Social Studies/Social Science Teacher - Valley Middle School
- Vocal Music Teacher - J Nelson Kelly Elementary School
- Vocal Music Teacher - Nathan Twining Elementary and Middle School
- Elementary Teacher
- EL Teacher - Elementary
- English Teacher - Grand Forks Central High School
- EL Teacher - Grand Forks Central High School
- MTSS Specialist - Lake Agassiz Elementary School
- Social Worker
- Summer School Teacher - Middle School Level
- Summer School Teacher - High School Level
- School Counselor - Valley Middle School
- School Psychologist Intern
- Create a Teacher Application
- Teacher - Century Elementary School
- EL Teacher
Support Staff
- Nursing Manager
- Family Services Specialist - Head Start
- SPA Assistant - Summer School
- Security Officer - Red River High School
- Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant (COTA)
- Bus Driver
- Security Officer - Grand Forks Central High School
- Elementary Level Paraprofessional
- Secondary Level Paraprofessional
- ENCORE Paraprofessional
- Native American Tutor
- Snow Removal (on-call)
- Substitute Custodian Application Pool
- Custodian Application Pool
- Lunchroom Paraprofessional Pool
- Cook Application Pool
Substitute
Coaching
- Assistant Softball Coach - Grand Forks Central High School
Upcoming Events
- March 4: Grades K-5/Twining Grades K-8 - 11:20 a.m. Dismissal (parent-teacher conferences)
- March 14-18: No School K-12; district office closes at 4 p.m.
- March 14: Grand Forks School Board meeting (6 p.m., Mark Sanford Education Center)
- March 15: Grand Forks Air Force Base Meeting (12 p.m., Nathan Twining Elementary and Middle School)
- March 23: Early Release (Nathan Twining/middle/high schools: 1 p.m., elementary schools: 1:30 p.m.)
- March 25: End of 3rd Quarter (middle/high schools)
- March 28: Grand Forks School Board meeting (6 p.m., South Middle School)
- March 28: Grand Forks School Board/Grand Forks Air Force Base School Board Public Forum (7 p.m., South Middle School)
Please note: March 9th was erroneously included as an early release day on the 2022 City of Grand Forks calendar. March 9th is not an early release day this year.