When this small town was given $1 million, child care was the top priority

Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Jackie Mader for The Hechinger Report kAmxE H2D a_`g H96? r2D:6 (2C?6C 7:CDE C62=:K65 E96C6 H2D 2 >2;@C AC@3=6> :? $6H2C5[ p=2D<2[ 2 A@AF=2C 4CF:D6 A@CE ?6DE=65 @? 2? :?=6E 23@FE 2 EH@\9@FC 5C:G6 D@FE9 @7 p?49@C286] pE E96 E:>6[ (2C?6C H@C<65 2D 2 9@>6 G:D:E@C[ AC@G:5:?8 25G:46[ DFAA@CE 2?5 C6D@FC46D E@ =@H\:?4@>6 A2C6?ED H:E9 J@F?8 49:=5C6?] k^Am kAm%:>6 2?5 E:>6 282:?[ (2C?6C H@F=5 962C E96 D2>6 DE@CJ 7C@> A2C6?EDi “‘x H2D?’E 23=6 E@ >2<6 >J >65:42= 2AA@:?E>6?ED] x 5:5?’E 92G6 49:=5 42C6[’” (2C?6C E@=5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^9649:?86CC6A@CE]@C8^Qm%96 w649:?86C #6A@CEk^2m] “‘x 4@F=5?’E A:4< FA 2? 6IEC2 D9:7E 2E H@C< 3642FD6 @7 49:=5 42C6]’” k^Am People are also reading… City and state leader and legendary entertainer Bill Sorensen dies Fargo woman pleads not guilty to Burleigh County drug, escape charges Ballot mix-up prevents some Bismarck voters from voting in District 7 race LIVE UPDATE: Tracking today's election in ND -- Fedorchak wins North Dakota U.S. House race UPDATE: Wells County man, woman killed in crash involving semi identified Bismarck school superintendent discusses teacher shortages Bismarck woman charged after allegedly trying to hide wanted man in dirt pile Both North Dakota constitutional ballot measures fail on Election Night Morton County man sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to meth trafficking charges UPDATE: Bismarck Public Schools’ $116.5M bond fails, falling short of 60% approval LaCoe, Munson, Splonskowski win Burleigh County Commission seats North Dakota county commission races targeted by out-of-state PAC ads 2026 General Election results ‘Burleigh County showed up’: LaCoe, Munson, Splonskowski react to election wins Bismarck man sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to charge from September robbery kAm(2C?6C D6E @FE E@ 7:?5 2 D@=FE:@?] qFE $6H2C5[ =:<6 >2?J CFC2= 4@>>F?:E:6D 24C@DD E96 4@F?ECJ[ :D 4@?D:56C65 2 49:=5 42C6 56D6CE[ H96C6 @AE:@?D 2C6 D42C46 2?5 E96C6 2C6 ?@ BF:4< 7:I6D]k^Am kAm%96?[ D@>6 F?6IA64E65 96=A 2CC:G65] x? a_a`[ }@CH68:2? rCF:D6 {:?6D 5@?2E65 S` >:==:@? E@ $6H2C5 E@ 96=A H:E9 A@DE\A2?56>:4 64@?@>:4 C64@G6CJ] %96 4:EJ 4@F?4:= G@E65 E@ DA6?5 E96 >@?6J @? E96 EH@ :DDF6D 566>65 E@ 36 E96 >@DE C6=6G2?E 7@C C6D:56?ED @7 E96 E@H? @7 a[g__i 9@FD:?8 2?5 49:=5 42C6]k^Am kAmu:G6 J62CD =2E6C[ =:46?D65 49:=5 42C6 D=@ED 2C6 FA 3J `d_ A6C46?E]k^Am kAmx? CFC2= 4@>>F?:E:6D[ E96 2G2:=23:=:EJ @7 277@C523=6 49:=5 42C6 :D 2 <6J 4@>A@?6?E @7 64@?@>:4 DF446DD] pE 2 E:>6 H96? 49:=5 42C6 D9@CE286D 2C6 AC@?@F?465[ 6DA64:2==J :? CFC2= 2C62D[ $6H2C5’D 2AAC@249 @7 AC:@C:E:K:?8 49:=5 42C6 2?5 :?G6DE:?8 :? ?6H AC@8C2>D 2?5 AC@G:56CD @776CD 2 A@E6?E:2= C@25 >2A 7@C @E96C 4@>>F?:E:6D =@@<:?8 E@ DEC6?8E96? E96:C 49:=5 42C6 :?5FDECJ[ DFAA@CE E96 =@42= 64@?@>J 2?5 6G6?EF2==J C6E2:? @C 2EEC24E ?6H C6D:56?ED] k^Am kAm“%96 9@A6 :D E92E :7 H6 42? 255C6DD 49:=5 42C6[ E92E A6C92AD :E H:== 92G6 2 3:886C C:AA=6 67764E[” D2:5 r@FCE?6J qC:?89FCDE[ 2 $6H2C5 4:EJ A=2??6C] “(6’C6 9@A:?8 E92E :E H:== 96=A >@C6 72>:=:6D 36 H:==:?8 E@ C6=@42E6 E@ $6H2C5 2?5 DE2J[” D96 25565] “x7 H6 42? 86E >@C6 72>:=:6D E@ DE2J[ E92E H:== 96=A DEC6?8E96? @FC D49@@=D[ H9:49 H:== 8:G6 >@C6 @AA@CEF?:E:6D 2?5 :?E6C6DE 7@C @E96C 3FD:?6DD6D E@ 4@>6 E@ $6H2C5]”k^Am kAmp=E9@F89 $6H2C5’D DF446DD D@ 72C :? 6IA2?5:?8 49:=5 42C6 D=@ED D9@HD H92E’D A@DD:3=6 H:E9 >@C6 >@?6J[ 6IA6CED 42FE:@? E92E :? >@DE A=246D[ AF3=:4 5@==2CD[ ?@E AC:G2E6 5@?2E:@?D 2=@?6[ H:== ?665 E@ 7:== E96 82A]k^Am kAm“xE’D :>A@DD:3=6 >2E9 @E96CH:D6 7@C E96D6 AC@8C2>D E@ 4@?E:?F6 @A6C2E:?8[ A2CE:4F=2C=J :? CFC2= 4@>>F?:E:6D[” D2:5 w2:=6J v:33D[ 2DD@4:2E6 5:C64E@C @7 62C=J 49:=59@@5 A@=:4J 2E E96 =67E\=62?:?8 r6?E6C 7@C p>6C:42? !C@8C6DD]k^Am kAmp3@FE k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]6CD]FD52]8@G^52E2\AC@5F4ED^492CED\@7\?@E6^``bhffQm` :? f A6@A=6k^2m :? E96 &]$] =:G6 :? 2 CFC2= 4@>>F?:EJ[ 2?5 E9@F89 E96J ?665 2?5 FD6 49:=5 42C6 2D >F49 2D E96:C FC32? 4@F?E6CA2CED[ E96J 7246 >2?J >@C6 AC@3=6>D 86EE:?8 :E] x? DA2CD6=J A@AF=2E65 2C62D[ 72>:=:6D 2C6 =:<6=J E@ =:G6 72C 7C@> E96 76H AC@G:56CD E92E 6I:DE] %96 >@DE FD65 49:=5 42C6 @AE:@? 7@C CFC2= 72>:=:6D :D 2 AC@G:56C E92E @A6C2E6D 7C@> E96:C 9@>6[ 3FE E9@D6 D>2== 3FD:?6DD6D 2C6 DBF66K65 3J =@H AC@7:E >2C8:?D 2?5 9:89 4@DED] k^Am kAmp44@C5:?8 E@ E96 r6?E6C 7@C p>6C:42? !C@8C6DD[ 2=>@DE 2== — k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]2>6C:42?AC@8C6DD]@C8^2CE:4=6^2>6C:42D\=:46?D65\49:=5\42C6\56D6CED^QmheTk^2m — @7 p=2D<2’D 49:=5C6? =:G6 :? 2 49:=5 42C6 56D6CE[ 567:?65 3J E96 E9:?< E2?< 2D 2? 2C62 H96C6 E96C6 2C6 E9C66 @C >@C6 49:=5C6? 7@C 6G6CJ =:46?D65 49:=5 42C6 D=@E] %96 AC@3=6> :D 6G6? >@C6 24FE6 :? CFC2= 2C62D E92E 2C6 2=D@ =@H :?4@>6i x? E9@D6 A2CED @7 E96 4@F?ECJ[ E96C6 2C6 ?:?6 323:6D 7@C 6G6CJ @?6 =:46?D65 49:=5 42C6 D=@E[ rp! D2JD]k^Am kAmp=2D<2’D 64@?@>J A2JD 2 A6?2=EJ 7@C E96 =24< @7 49:=5 42C6 — 244@C5:?8 E@ 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]FD492>36C7@F?52E:@?]@C8^65F42E:@?^F?E2AA65\A@E6?E:2=\C6A@CE\2=2D<2Qma_ab C6A@CEk^2m 7C@> E96 &]$] r92>36C @7 r@>>6C46 u@F?52E:@?[ E96 DE2E6 =@DE S`ed >:==:@? 3642FD6 A2C6?ED 4@F=5?’E 2446DD 49:=5 42C6 E@ 8@ E@ H@C< @C D49@@=] k^Am kAmqFE E96 64@?@>:4 67764ED 2C6 @?=J A2CE @7 E96 DE@CJ] #FC2= 72>:=:6D 2C6 >@C6 =:<6=J E@ 6IA6C:6?46 7@@5 :?D64FC:EJ 2?5 E@ 36 @? AF3=:4 2DD:DE2?46[ 2?5 CFC2= 49:=5C6? F?56C d 92G6 @?6 @7 E96 ?2E:@?’D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]6CD]FD52]8@G^52E2\AC@5F4ED^492CED\@7\?@E6^``_bdeQm9:896DE A@G6CEJ C2E6Dk^2m] !@G6CEJ 2?5 7@@5 :?D64FC:EJ 2C6 =:?<65 E@ A@@C D49@@= A6C7@C>2?46[ H9:49 9:89 BF2=:EJ 49:=5 42C6 4@F=5 2==6G:2E6 — 3FE E92E 42C6 :D ?@E 2? @AE:@? 7@C >2?J] k^Am kAm“(6 =@H\:?4@>6 72>:=:6D 2C6 C625J 7@C D49@@= 2E 286 d[ 2?5 E96 82AD 2C6 ;FDE D@ >F49 =2C86C :? CFC2= 4@>>F?:E:6D[” D2:5 z2C6? w2CC:D@?[ =625 25G:D6C 7@C H@C<7@C46 56G6=@A>6?E 2E E96 8=@32= ?@?AC@7:E $2G6 E96 r9:=5C6?[ H9:49 CF?D D6G6C2= CFC2= 49:=5 42C6 :?:E:2E:G6D :? E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D] “|2?J 72>:=:6D :? CFC2= 4@>>F?:E:6D 2C6 =67E H:E9@FE @AE:@?D]”k^Am kAmx? $6H2C5[ t==2 (C:89E D2:5 D96 2?5 96C 9FD32?5 DA6?E E96 7:CDE 7:G6 J62CD @7 E96:C 52F89E6C’D =:76 H@C<:?8 A2CE E:>6 :? ?FCD:?8 2?5 >6?E2= 962=E9 ;@3D C6DA64E:G6=J[ 5F6 E@ E96 =24< @7 49:=5 42C6] &?E:= 96C 52F89E6C 8@E 2 DA@E 2E 2 A2CE\E:>6 AC6D49@@= 2E 286 b[ “H6 925 ?@ 3C6265 3J D?@H\42AA65 A62>6CD :? $6H2C5 2C6 =:G6=J] ~? 52JD H96? 4CF:D6 D9:AD 2C6 :? A@CE[ E@FC:DED >62?56C FA 2?5 5@H? E96 >2:? DEC66E[ DE@4<:?8 FA @? D@FG6?:CD 2?5 E2<:?8 A:4EFC6D :? 7C@?E @7 #6DFCC64E:@? q2J’D :46\3=F6 H2E6C] sFC:?8 E96D6 >@?E9D[ D62D@?2= H@C<6CD 7=@@5 E96 E@H? E@ H@C< 2E C6DE2FC2?ED 2?5 D9@AD] k^Am kAmqFE E96 E@H?’D J62C\C@F?5 6>A=@J6CD[ :?4=F5:?8 2 DE2E6 >2I:>F>\D64FC:EJ AC:D@? 2?5 2 >65:42= 724:=:EJ[ 7246 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]2=2D<2D?6HDD@FC46]4@>^a_ae^_b^`_^2=2D<2\=2H>2<6CD\25G2?46\2==\E:>6\9:89\dab>\56A2CE>6?E\4@CC64E:@?D\3F586E^Qm@?8@:?8 H@C<6C D9@CE286Dk^2m] %96 D9@CE286D 92G6 366? D@ AC@?@F?465 E92E :? a_ab E96 E@H? 925 E@ E6>A@C2C:=J 4=@D6 :ED D>2== =@42= ;2:=[ 5:G6CE:?8 A6@A=6 :? 4FDE@5J E@ DE2E6\CF? 724:=:E:6D[ F?E:= :E 4@F=5 9:C6 >@C6 6>A=@J66D] k^Am kAm“xE’D G6CJ 5:77:4F=E E@ >2:?E2:? 2 DEC@?8[ J62C\C@F?5 64@?@>J[ 3642FD6 H6 42?’E >2:?E2:? 72>:=:6D J62C\C@F?5 :? $6H2C5[” D2:5 qC:?89FCDE[ E96 4:EJ A=2??6C] “!6@A=6 ;FDE 42?’E >2:?E2:? 2 ;@3 :7 E96J 5@?’E 92G6 C6=:23=6 49:=5 42C6]” k^Am kAm%96 5@?2E:@? 7C@> }@CH68:2? 4@F=5?’E 92G6 4@>6 2E 2 36EE6C E:>6 7@C E96 E@H?] x? a_`h[ 2 49:=5 42C6 AC@8C2> 4=@D65 F?6IA64E65=J ;FDE E9C66 J62CD 27E6C :E @A6?65[ 6=:>:?2E:?8 a_ 49:=5 42C6 DA@ED 7C@> E96 4@>>F?:EJ] W"FE6<42< }2E:G6 %C:36[ 2 $6H2C5\32D65 D@4:2= D6CG:46D 286?4J E92E C2? E96 AC@8C2>[ 5:5 ?@E C6DA@?5 E@