Fargo safety committee reports more training, new protocols and improved survey results

Fargo Public Schools’ safety committee reported on the 2023–24 and 2024–25 school-year work, telling the Board of Education the district broadened its definition of safety, expanded training for staff, upgraded cameras and developed new crisis‑response and debriefing protocols.

“[Safety is] a culture of prevention that protects youth and adults from natural hazards or human actions that may cause physical and or psychological harm or affect one's ability to function in school,” said a safety committee presenter as the committee described how the definition guided recommendations.

Committee representatives said the district increased access to CPI and crisis‑response training (including offering monthly in‑contract CPI sessions for staff who need certification), used four early‑release days for virtual professional development, and plans to use the January PD day in 2026 to reach classified staff who miss early‑release opportunities. The committee also reported the district reengaged school‑based mental‑health professionals to draft a psychological response to crisis manual and strengthened a partnership with Village Family Services to support debriefing after significant events.

The safety committee said it upgraded about 500 camera systems and improved hallway monitoring; it also described additions to medical supplies and AED maintenance. On discipline and culture, the committee is revising the district’s Code of Character, Conduct and Support to make it more accessible (multiple languages, plain language) and to convert it into teacher-friendly, tier‑1 instructional lessons for classrooms.

Committee members summarized climate and culture survey improvements across student, staff and caregiver responses and recommended administering the aligned survey annually in the spring to reduce survey fatigue and allow for consistent year‑to‑year comparisons.

Board members praised the work. “Students feel safe, supported, and ready to learn every day,” a board member said while thanking the committee for data showing growth in aligned measures. A board member requested administration share CPI and Ocaro data results publicly; committee presenters said the district is outperforming national averages on repeat‑infraction measures and that many buildings show high rates of students with no major behavior infractions.

The committee recommended continued focus on tier‑1 behavioral instruction, expanded simulated emergency response drills, an updated panic alarm system, and exploration of a standardized threat‑assessment tool for districtwide use.