Erin Oban

04/21/2025

I emailed my ND House members this morning. Have you? If not, please use this post and link to assist!

04/19/2025

Doing a thing this morning at 10:00 am CT, and there’s still time to join! Use the registration link to log on (even in your cozies with a fresh cup of coffee ☕️) if you’re interested!

🚨This Saturday!🚨

We're tackling a major threat to our public schools: school voucher schemes. Join us at 10am this Saturday, April 19th as Erin Oban, former state senator with North Dakotans For Public Schools, breaks down the disastrous “education savings account” bills currently moving through the Legislature.

Registration is required: bit.ly/amplifynd

04/18/2025

I'm seeing a whole lot of surprise and disappointment being expressed on social media by the ND legislature's actions to move forward with bills that would, for the first time in our state's history, provide public dollars for private schools. I share the disappointment but, admittedly, not the surprise.

For the last couple months, I've been helping to build up a coalition of regular people - moms, dads, friends, neighbors, and North Dakotans who don't necessarily belong to membership organizations - who share this value and principle. I don't know for sure where this very important issue will end up, if the legislature will pass something, if the Governor will sign it, or not, but North Dakotans for Public Schools is committed to ensuring the public's voice is heard loudly and clearly on it, even if it requires us to let the public have the final vote on it.

If you feel similarly, and if you're frustrated that it feels like we're not being heard on this one, then sign up to join the North Dakotans for Public Schools coalition on the website: https://www.ndforpublicschools.com/take-action. Commenting and posting on social media can provide a nice outlet, but ND4PS will continue to prepare for concrete next steps, and we'll need your help to do it.

We are deeply disappointed in today’s Senate vote on HB 1540. Legislators chose to side with private interests over public education, and that’s a decision that affects every public school student in North Dakota.

But this fight is far from over.

HB 1540 now heads to conference committee, and ND For Public Schools will be there every step of the way, standing up for kids, families and communities who depend on strong public schools.

Thank you to the Senators who put public education first and voted no.

We remain committed to the simple truth:
Public dollars belong in public schools.

04/12/2025

04/03/2025

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03/31/2025

As I listen and watch our state’s legislators now lowering the amount of property tax relief they’re proposing and “digging through the couch cushions” to pay for modest increases to fund our state’s existing obligations and responsibilities, it’s mind-boggling to me that they’re so seriously considering establishing a private school voucher/education savings account program, which comes with a massive price tag each year. (Pssssst, I know where they can find that money they’re searching for! It’s in HB 1540 and SB 2400! 🤫)

There’s still time to engage in this debate. I’ll let you know easy ways to help by signing up here: https://www.ndforpublicschools.com/take-action.

02/27/2025

If you've been following this legislative session in ND, you might already know that there are two different voucher/voucher-like bills (SB 2400 and HB 1540) that have passed one chamber and will be making their way to the other in the coming weeks. If passed, those bills, while different in their approaches, will ultimately directly give, for the first time in our state's history, public money to subsidize private schools.

While I absolutely respect families who choose, for whatever reason, to send their kids to private and/or parochial schools, I fundamentally disagree with taxpayers paying for their choice. If that's also how you feel, please like, follow, sign-up, and share North Dakotans For Public Schools for information about how you can get involved. We can't just post and comment our disappointment, frustration, and opposition on social media. We need to take action and do so collectively. This coalition is forming for that exact purpose, so please join me by staying informed, taking action, and getting connected at North Dakotans for Public Schools.

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61572285637958

ND4PS is a grassroots coalition of parents, neighbors, and community members dedicated to strengthening, protecting, & celebrating public schools and a high-quality public education for all children in North Dakota.

06/07/2024

It was a long time coming, but the Anne Carlsen Center has officially opened its doors at their brand new facility in Jamestown, and we were honored to celebrate with them! With $40 million in investments from USDA Rural Development, this thoughtfully designed space will allow for the dedicated ACC staff to enhance the specialized care and education they provide to kids and individuals with unique needs. As I shared yesterday, USDA RD does what we do so they can do what they do, but we only get to do it when the President of the United States and Members of Congress dedicate federal resources to serve rural areas like ours.

05/14/2024

Thrilled to join the leadership, staff, and community of Northwood this afternoon for the groundbreaking of Northwood Deaconess Health Center’s major renovation and expansion project! Another significant investment by USDA Rural Development in the rural people and places that matter so much to us in North Dakota!

04/10/2024

Come work with me and our great team at USDA Rural Development! We are hiring a Grants Management Specialist within our Business & Cooperative Programs section, based in any of our North Dakota offices (Bismarck, Devils Lake, Dickinson, Minot, Valley City). With the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act and increased interest and applications coming in, we're looking for more support from individuals dedicated to our mission of serving rural and Tribal people and places!

Learn more here: https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViEXewDetails/784772700

01/17/2024

USDA Rural Development is now accepting applications for grant funding to help ag producers get into new markets and add value to what they grow, raise, and produce. This program - the Value Added Producer Grant - provides successful applicants with grant funds of up to $75,000 for planning activities or up to $250,000 for working capital expenses and has been awarded in recent years to North Dakota entities like the North American Bison Cooperative near New Rockford, Cows & Co Creamery outside of Carrington, and Shepherd Industries based out of the Nome Schoolhouse.

If you happen to be or know of any independent producers, ag producer groups, farmer or rancher cooperatives, or majority-controlled producer-based businesses that might be interested in exploring this opportunity, please share this information and/or connect with the USDA Rural Development office here in North Dakota ([email protected] or 701-530-2037).

More info here:https://www.rd.usda.gov/media/file/download/usda-rd-sa-vappg-foa-01172024.pdf

01/11/2024

Interested in doing work worth doing? We’re adding a loan specialist to our RD-ND team in either our Devils Lake or Minot office to help eligible individuals & families apply for loans and grants to own or repair their homes in rural North Dakota communities.

Apply today: usajobs.gov/job/770053000 or usajobs.gov/job/770056200