Dr. Jeff Fastnacht, BPS Superintendent

Dr. Jeff Fastnacht, BPS Superintendent Official Bismarck Public Schools Superintendent Page

If you can stop by at Meg-A-Latte next Wednesday.
09/25/2026

If you can stop by at Meg-A-Latte next Wednesday.

In 2002, I spent time in Haiti on a mission trip helping build as school with my father. The school charged tuition, if ...
09/25/2026

In 2002, I spent time in Haiti on a mission trip helping build as school with my father. The school charged tuition, if I remember correctly, about $35 a year. By our standards, that didn't sound like much. For many families there, it was more than they could afford. Some children attended school, most did not and looked in from the outside. I have never forgotten that.

I think about that experience when I hear the argument that parents should pay for the “extras” in public education. There is a reasonable point behind it: public resources are finite, and schools cannot provide everything a family might want. But defining an “extra” gets complicated quickly. Athletics? Orchestra? Band? Art? Career and technical education? An AP exam? And even if we agree something is an extra, what happens to the child whose parents cannot afford it? There is a difference between an opportunity being available and being available to everyone.

That gets to something more fundamental about public education. We don't fund schools only for our own children. People without children pay taxes for schools. So do people whose children graduated decades ago. We do that because an educated population benefits all of us. Public education represents a civic commitment that we will invest not only in our own children, but in one another's children.

I am certainly not comparing Bismarck to Haiti or an activity fee to tuition. But seeing children on the outside because their families couldn't afford $35 taught me something I haven't forgotten. As we debate what schools should provide and what parents should pay for, perhaps the question is not simply what counts as an “extra.” It is what opportunities we believe every child should have regardless of the circumstances of the family they were born into, and what we, as a community, are willing to support to make that possible.

Just some Friday thoughts. Have a great weekend.
I know, I know the mustache was awful.

Four years ago, 13% of our students received special education services through an IEP. Today, it’s 15% of our nearly 14...
09/23/2026

Four years ago, 13% of our students received special education services through an IEP. Today, it’s 15% of our nearly 14,000 students, approximately 300 more students receiving special education services across our district.

Those needs vary widely. Some students need additional academic support. Others have significant disabilities that require specialized instruction, accessible spaces, personal care and toileting, and other services throughout the school day.

That’s an important part of the work happening at Grimsrud Elementary and included in the facilities plan, which is in front of voters this November.

The improvements at Grimsrud are about creating spaces designed around those needs, not trying to make services fit into spaces that weren’t built for them. That means better spaces for specialized instruction, accessibility and personal care, along with environments that allow our staff to provide the right support for each student.

As our students’ needs change, our schools need to change with them. Better learning spaces help us serve students safely, effectively and with dignity.

Learn more at https://www.bismarckschools.org/bond-election/the-plan

Monday night, the Bismarck School Board held our required public budget hearing and continued discussions around the 202...
09/18/2026

Monday night, the Bismarck School Board held our required public budget hearing and continued discussions around the 2026–27 budget. We appreciated the community member who joined us for the hearing.

One of the most important parts of the budget conversation is understanding where the money goes. The graphic below helps tell that story.

Our people are our largest investment. Salaries make up 60.9% of projected expenditures, and benefits account for another 23.3%. Together, that means 84.2% of our budget goes toward salaries and benefits for the people who serve our students every day.

That same priority is reflected in the increase for next year. Of the projected $6.3 million increase in expenditures, 87%, about $5.45 million, is going toward salaries and benefits increases.

Budgets are ultimately about priorities. For BPS, the numbers show that the significant majority of our resources are invested in the people who work with and support our students.

Bands from across BPS will be participating in the Autumn Parade this Saturday at 4pm. Come on out and enjoy their talen...
09/17/2026

Bands from across BPS will be participating in the Autumn Parade this Saturday at 4pm. Come on out and enjoy their talents and cheer on our kids. Also a good time to share your support for BPS!

A recent reply to one of my posts raises a fair question. Fourth-grade orchestra was not reduced because it lacked educa...
09/16/2026

A recent reply to one of my posts raises a fair question. Fourth-grade orchestra was not reduced because it lacked educational value, nor was it the only area affected. Over the past three years, BPS has reduced millions of dollars from administration, staffing, programs, and operations. Each decision involved weighing student impact, legal obligations, staffing, available alternatives, and long-term sustainability. I understand why families question any decision affecting a program they value.

I would hesitate to describe athletics and activities as non-educational. They develop engagement, belonging, teamwork, discipline, and leadership. However, it is reasonable to ask how much taxpayers should fund and what role fees, fundraising, and families should play. However, I would bet if we were going to cut them from BPS, we would have many concerns expressed.

The larger question is where public education’s responsibility begins and ends. The North Dakota Constitution requires a uniform system of free public schools. Federal law also guarantees students with disabilities a Free Appropriate Public Education, or FAPE. These laws establish important obligations, but they do not define every opportunity schools should provide.

Jamie Vollmer illustrates this challenge through “Vollmer’s List.” https://schoolleadership.net/project/the-ever-increasing-burden-on-americas-public-schools/ Over many decades, schools have assumed responsibilities involving nutrition, health, transportation, music, athletics, career education, special education, technology, safety, counseling, and much more. Most were added for legitimate reasons, but very little has ever been removed.

Property-tax concerns have not fallen on deaf ears, as was stated. BPS has made significant reductions while salaries, benefits, transportation, insurance, utilities, and required services continue to increase in cost. Our friend, Fargo Public Schools is now placing a related question before its voters as it seeks renewed authority to maintain its existing offerings and allow local revenue to keep pace.

Although the details differ, both communities face the same two questions: What do people expect their schools to provide, and what level of public funding are they willing to sustain?

Those questions go hand in hand. The law establishes minimum obligations, but communities must ultimately reconcile what they expect from their schools with what they are willing to support.

An important part of Monday night’s budget discussion was the work Bismarck Public Schools has already done to control c...
09/16/2026

An important part of Monday night’s budget discussion was the work Bismarck Public Schools has already done to control costs.

Over the past three years, we have made several changes to reduce ongoing expenses. Those decisions include changes to transportation, Head Start busing, staffing supported by temporary COVID funding, fourth-grade orchestra, and business office staffing.

Together, these changes represent approximately $1.1 million in savings.

These have not all been easy decisions, and each has had an impact. But responsible budgeting means continually looking at how we operate, finding efficiencies where we can, and often just saying no.

As we plan for the future, we will continue looking for ways to control costs while keeping our focus on what matters most: supporting our students and the people who serve them every day.

Address

128 Soo Line Drive
Bismarck, ND
58501

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Dr. Jeff Fastnacht, BPS Superintendent posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Dr. Jeff Fastnacht, BPS Superintendent:

Shortcuts

Share

Category