[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6088528,"mediaKeyId","2880045-54412012384093ab6d7f61055ffadc5e","parentId",2880045,"title","Minot State presses for downtown Health Sciences Institute; state funding not included in Senate bill","audioSeconds",2309,"startMs",5063000,"endMs",7372000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2880045-54412012384093ab6d7f61055ffadc5e&start=5063&end=7372","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2880045-54412012384093ab6d7f61055ffadc5e/thumbnail_5063000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6088528/North-Dakota/Minot-State-presses-for-downtown-Health-Sciences-Institute-state-funding-not-included-in-Senate-bill","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6088528-5acc5a0289ca25ece9b35a1d53300405/orig.mp4?Expires=1771159176&Signature=A-3k1wXf3dtHoRBvLI~TO5PmoTkR~YWKPH-7E6qG4o3X2nelr68eSNXIZ3P2P-CejJzCUFXY8Xo1s4xYo1yN1KgrIcClH47rtSJZqUT8zpO8n6urTb3oVroScd-Dn171gRefa7Oigh5IY9yfKLhbBWliJowkyZhio5CSpCvYJBAKuwsLoMZYqefna3L3-mtszlpphh49FvOFz9zPHt1yDtfs1dzCKFjO7Q-0BK9E9iWu3E0Fj9jNn5K2EWJg99Ng8X8yAmfyNVylrKLiA6BEJnaQUwgMO-5S8kImqTNJUdytwz2yGpH1Qgk6IP4ReZSX2AbTNZ77sWY32-s2q-wyyA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","North Dakota State Legislature","date","2025-04-04T00:00:00Z","article","Minot State University and Dakota College at Bottineau on the committee’s agenda described a proposal to purchase and outfit Trinity Health’s Health Center West in downtown Minot to create a Health Sciences Institute aimed at expanding regional healthcare training.

Steve Shirley, president of Minot State University, told the committee the campus pair has a record providing nursing and allied‑health programming in downtown Minot and wants to expand offerings including surgical technician, sonography, respiratory therapy technician, dental hygiene and assorted certificates. Shirley said the State Board of Higher Education ranked the proposal among top priorities for new capital projects and emphasized the cost advantage: the Trinity Health West building purchase and fit‑out was estimated at $12.3 million for about 39,000 square feet (approximately $315 per square foot), “well less than half” the per‑square‑foot cost of new construction proposals the system had reviewed.

John Kutch, president and CEO of Trinity Health in Minot, said the hospital system and a coalition of regional critical‑access hospitals endorsed the project and argued the institute would strengthen the workforce pipeline for northwest North Dakota. “If you were to present me with 200 qualified nurses, I would hire 100% of them,” Kutch told the committee, explaining current staffing shortages and the demand for clinical hires.

Dakota College at Bottineau Campus Dean Carmen Symone described recent program expansions already delivered downtown: dental assisting began last fall and the college has received national accreditation approval to offer dental hygiene this fall. Symone said the space Minot State and DCB are using already allowed the college to double the number of nursing seats it can serve.

Committee members asked implementation questions — timeline, equipment and program capacity. Shirley and Trinity representatives estimated 12–24 months to be operational, with many fit‑out tasks and equipment lead times to schedule. Committee members discussed the project’s place in the capital request process; Minot State said the State Board prioritized the initiative but the Senate did not include funding in its bill. The campus sought $12.35 million in state funds (with a 5% local match) and requested authority to pursue $3 million in private fundraising if the legislature permitted fundraising authority.

Why it matters: University and hospital leaders presented the project as a cost‑effective, near‑turnkey way to expand clinical simulation and allied‑health training in a high‑visibility downtown site; proponents said it would directly address a regional shortage of nurses and allied‑health workers and supply qualified candidates to local and regional hospitals.

Next steps: The committee heard the testimony but did not vote on a funding measure; Minot State and local partners said they will continue outreach with lawmakers and pursue fundraising and intergovernmental support.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Appropriations - Education and Environment Division Friday, Apr 4, 2025 7:55 AM - 10:00 AM","oneSentenceSummary","Minot State University and Dakota College at Bottineau requested state funding to buy and outfit Trinity Health’s downtown Minot facility as a regional Health Sciences Institute. Trustees ranked the project highly, but the Senate did not include funding; university and hospital leaders described workforce needs and potential program plans.","taxTitle","Appropriations - Education and Environment Division, House of Representatives, Legislative, North Dakota","taxId",28886,"location","North Dakota","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6088533,"Panel drops $1 million appropriation, leaves Choice Ready grant language intact",1799,3220000,5019000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2880045-54412012384093ab6d7f61055ffadc5e&start=3220&end=5019","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2880045-54412012384093ab6d7f61055ffadc5e/thumbnail_3220000.jpg","/articles/6088533/North-Dakota/Panel-drops-1-million-appropriation-leaves-Choice-Ready-grant-language-intact","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6088533-1e4fce25498e53934d4aa558a9558563/orig.mp4?Expires=1771159176&Signature=TTqdc9l-fK~U09X4ndn-njjKmkZUxjidZlfj27n5isONt1wD2KeXfV0lARInKGjUbmJkgx~lT9eYgnyevQYADSTOFhqJKs-9AfMCJQwlHjUMjfTHp9lTNA3H8Enpdql-sHX61avXP-0KqhWQpS2J2sC9G5n8Z2TWR-N78bk-QrGB-ytjzdupbGBF2J2km87r5H9SgFfxowppcBwZleFrCUbQQ5yF6VfM15fCk93H~OP1kdvHQX9gGdVAZLNJmA9WungQmvSzw3JdFlMruLAmPBLBMQoJp-fYwnK3pucLtEq-EIwf46S7FKwx0HhfbrgpogIxzEljVDzgf1SkXkfLyQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Appropriations - Education and Environment Division considered Senate Bill 22-34, a proposal to continue Choice Ready grants to school districts, and amended the measure to delete the $1,000,000 appropriation while leaving the grant language intact.

Senator Kyle Davison, District 41, framed the bill as a continuation of Choice Ready grants that the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) previously funded with ESSER dollars to help high schools increase the number of seniors who graduate meeting Choice Ready indicators. \"Choice ready is a key metric in the North Dakota accountability system,\" Jim Uppgren of DPI told the committee, summarizing the framework and explaining prior grant uses such as ACT preparation, dual credit and online courses.

Uppgren told lawmakers the Choice Ready share of the statewide accountability system had climbed since the framework’s inception; DPI reported Choice Ready rates rose from roughly 21% in 2016 to about 71% for the class of 2024. He said the grant program funded a range of discrete uses — ACT tutoring, dual-credit costs, AP exams and career-exploration experiences — and described past caps and spending: early rounds had a $20,000 per-school cap and later targeted grants (ACT prep, online courses, dual credit) had per-program caps around $6,000.

Committee members debated options: Representative Sanford proposed removing the appropriation but leaving the statutory grant authority so DPI could continue the program if it found alternate funding sources. Representative Hansen noted that deleting the appropriation would not eliminate Choice Ready work at DPI because the agency already administers the framework, but it would end the state’s direct grant funding unless other funds were identified.

Representative Sanford moved to remove the $1,000,000 appropriation while preserving the policy language; Representative Lauser seconded. The committee approved the amendment and then gave the bill a due-pass recommendation as amended. Roll call recorded unanimous yes votes from Chairman Naithi; Vice Chair Swontek; Representatives Hansen, Lauser, Martinson, Richter and Sanford.

Clarifying details provided in testimony: DPI said the grants previously were supported by ESSER funds and that the agency had awarded different caps across years (a $20,000 per-school cap in early rounds; later rounds used smaller caps per program). DPI said it has no other state funding currently designated to replace ESSER for Choice Ready grants if an appropriation is not made.

Why it matters: Supporters argued Choice Ready grants provide tangible, targeted supports (ACT prep, dual credit, online courses) that help students meet postsecondary and workforce readiness indicators. Lawmakers weighing broader budget priorities questioned whether the one-million-dollar appropriation should be funded from the state budget when districts and DPI also face other spending needs.

Next steps: The amended bill will proceed to full appropriations. Representative Sanford agreed to carry the matter when it advances.","The committee removed the proposed $1 million appropriation for Choice Ready grants but left the grant authority in statute; the bill received a due-pass recommendation as amended.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6088537,"Panel trims pilot, advances ‘science of math’ teacher-training bill",2792,374000,3166000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2880045-54412012384093ab6d7f61055ffadc5e&start=374&end=3166","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2880045-54412012384093ab6d7f61055ffadc5e/thumbnail_374000.jpg","/articles/6088537/North-Dakota/Panel-trims-pilot-advances-science-of-math-teacher-training-bill","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6088537-89aa39acd95988cd23d9199c562c321c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771159176&Signature=gz16ekUTFCxTUMFtvkqyL7zhoBfTTFQWCGSJTv1RO0Vjc36ghqrsF64UJG8NApAi-xjjHD6Hd8jhtppvkPXtubi60T0KHDhsOd~scR5~X8JdY134mHMShm5yVbkEBW~liHurbM6vsvbG8ybDvMsY-TWtFu2qZ5x70FLy4lAJzD2txu~50Hx1-7nS6muOpeBl62jzLcuV3IlU189FlGfv47tFTNDC2Py2M2uo1UKH2r7anFSnI2t47Jl1EMqY6DKqgsO6V33~BTnaq5ROkOL7IJU9hJo-xtPYsAqrm2hhsM39Xs7D~LvND7D93d4oqd6YXVsw9p15oct~TQgBKRqt3g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Appropriations - Education and Environment Division on the morning of the hearing amended and advanced Senate Bill 22-13, a measure to require targeted professional development and licensure alignment aimed at improving math instruction.

Senator Don Shively, District 31, described the bill as patterned after the state’s earlier “science of reading” effort: “This is what I call the science of math,” he told the committee, saying the measure would “encourag[e] and requir[e] our teachers to become better educated” about effective math instruction. The bill focuses on grade-level targets, professional development for in-service teachers and changes to teacher preparation so new teachers enter classrooms with the needed math content and pedagogy.

Committee members debated a House amendment that added a small pilot program and extra funding. Rudy Martinson of Primacy Strategy Group told the committee the pilot would add a screening tool aimed at grades 4–8 so teachers could identify each student’s skill level and provide individualized plans. Martinson said the pilot was “intended to have…skill level screeners and skill level assessments” and to include reporting language so the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) could evaluate the tool’s effectiveness.

Several lawmakers questioned whether the pilot duplicate existing educator data tools and whether it would add useful information for teachers. Representative Richter said teachers already can “dig down” under competency-based systems and expressed skepticism that the pilot was necessary. Representative Sanford and others noted differences between reading and math instruction — curriculum selection and material support play larger roles in math — and cautioned that implementation would take multiple years and that student attendance could affect outcomes.

DPI Director of Academic Support Anne Ellifson told members the bill’s delayed effective dates for some sections (notably provisions tied to licensure and early-grade screening) were intended to give districts time to prepare. Ellifson also said DPI currently has staff working on math and reading efforts but that some of that staff time is funded with federal funds subject to supplement-not-supplant rules; the committee retained $200,000 for DPI administrative costs so the agency can assign state-funded time to the math work without charging federal grants.

Representative Richter moved to remove section 6 (the pilot) and to reduce the appropriation in section 7 accordingly; Representative Martinson seconded. The committee approved the motion to remove the pilot (and adjust funding) by roll call, 7–0. The full bill, as amended, then received a due-pass recommendation on a 7–0 roll call. The committee recorded the yes votes as Chairman Naithi, Vice Chair Swontek, Representatives Hansen, Lauser, Martinson, Richter and Sanford.

Clarifying details provided during testimony and reflected in the amendment: the House had added pilot funding that raised an original package from what the sponsor described as $1.2 million to $1.5 million; the amendment removed a $300,000 pilot line, returning the larger appropriation to about $1.2 million while leaving a roughly $200,000 administrative allocation for DPI in place. Senator Shively and other speakers told the panel they expect a multi-year rollout and estimated it could take four years (two bienniums) to bring statewide implementation to the intended level.

The committee asked DPI to report back on implementation status during future sessions. Representative Richter was designated as the committee’s point person when the bill moves to the full appropriations committee.

Votes at a glance

- Motion to remove section 6 (pilot) and adjust funding: moved by Representative Richter, seconded by Representative Martinson; outcome: passed, 7–0 (Chairman Naithi; Vice Chair Swontek; Representatives Hansen, Lauser, Martinson, Richter, Sanford — all yes).
- Due-pass motion for Senate Bill 22-13 as amended: moved by Representative Richter, seconded by Representative Martinson; outcome: passed, 7–0.

Why it matters: Supporters said the bill aims to raise teacher content knowledge and align teacher preparation with K–8 and middle‑grade math standards, mirroring the state’s earlier, multi‑year science-of-reading effort. Opponents of the pilot questioned whether the screening tool adds new value beyond existing competency‑data systems and whether the appropriation targets the most effective interventions.

Next steps: The bill advances to full appropriations as amended. Representative Richter will carry the item forward.","The Appropriations - Education and Environment Division removed a proposed $300,000 pilot and approved a due-pass recommendation for Senate Bill 22-13, which would require targeted professional development and licensing changes to improve math instruction for K–8 and middle school teachers.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Minot State presses for downtown Health Sciences Institute; state funding not included in Senate bill

Panel drops $1 million appropriation, leaves Choice Ready grant language intact

Panel trims pilot, advances ‘science of math’ teacher-training bill