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Fargo board approves partnership with Sanford Health to develop clinic at Fargo South High School
Summary
The Fargo Board of Education voted to move forward with a partnership with Sanford Health to establish an on-site clinic at Fargo South, authorizing lease negotiations and infrastructure preparations; the district expects to cover roughly $200,000 in site upgrades while Sanford would fund interior renovations.
The Fargo Board of Education voted to proceed with plans to host an on-site clinic at Fargo South High School in partnership with Sanford Health, authorizing administrators to negotiate a lease and prepare bid documents for required infrastructure work.
Dr. Steiner described the proposal as a public–private partnership that would give staff and families priority appointment availability, expand community access, and create enhanced learning opportunities for the district's health-science programs. “It was a little bit like hitting the easy button because it was probably three minutes into it and they're like, ‘Yeah, let's figure this out and how can we do it?’” Dr. Steiner said.
Under the plan presented to the board, Sanford would pay for interior renovations. The district identified roughly $200,000 in preliminary infrastructure costs that it would cover, including replacement of an air-handler unit and expansion of sewer capacity to accommodate additional sinks and fixtures. Administration said routine operational details such as snow removal and emergency procedures (lockdown or fire drill protocols) were discussed and would be written into the agreement.
Board member Robin moved the measure to authorize negotiation of a lease and preparation of bids; the motion was seconded and approved. One board member declared a conflict of interest and did not participate in the vote.
Supporters said the clinic could provide faster access to care for employees and families while offering students practical training opportunities. Planning chair Greg Clark noted the item had been discussed repeatedly in planning meetings this year and described the approval as the next formal step in a long process of development.
Officials said the district will return to the board with finalized lease terms and bid results before any construction begins. The board did not approve a final contract with Sanford at the meeting; it authorized administrators to continue negotiations and to prepare procurement documents for the district-funded infrastructure work.
