Parent tells Fargo board governance self-assessments should be more rigorous and keep 'advocacy' in committee purpose

Paul Moore, a North Fargo resident, used his three-minute public comment to press the Fargo Board of Education to strengthen its approach to governance self-assessments and to keep the word "advocacy" in the communications and engagement committee's stated purpose.

"Words matter," Moore said, describing how review of memo 92 led him to question why multiple items are marked "substantial compliance." He argued that "substantial" can mask gaps and weaknesses: "Substantial compliance ' doesn't mean everything was met as written. It means it was mostly met. There may be gaps, weaknesses or other elements."

Moore questioned whether the committee has actually held quarterly meetings as its stated purpose implies, saying the agendas published did not show meetings that met a true quarterly cadence. He also criticized a later suggestion in the memo to remove the word "advocacy" from the committee's purpose. "That just seems very strange to me because that's the whole point ' you guys are advocating for the parents and the parents who can't be here," Moore said, calling the change "deceitful" if the board no longer intends to engage stakeholders.

Moore closed by urging the board to acknowledge any change in intent and be transparent about a shift away from engagement if that is the board's decision. The board did not debate the comment during the meeting; it was received under the recognition-of-the-audience public-comment item.