FARGO, ND – The Fargo School Board has selected Horace Mann as the name of its new northside elementary school.
The board rendered a unanimous decision at its Tuesday night board meeting. The selection was made via a forced matrix completed by the board as a part of the meeting.
Horace Mann was one of five finalists for the name of the new school, which is set to open in the fall of 2028. The process began with 437 unique names, which was initially dwindled to 29 names before the final five were selected at the November 12 board meeting.
Comments from students
Madison Elementary School Principal Lori Conmy was unable to attend the meeting, but comments were shared on her behalf.
Conmy was able to go into the classroom and go through the choices that were before the board.
“The kids had fun with the process and being a part,” said Missy Eidness, Associate Superintendent at Fargo Public Schools.
Students from Madison submitted North Star Elementary to the board for its consideration.
Leandra Ostrom, Principal at Horace Mann Roosevelt Elementary, said she spoke to her students in grades Kindergarten through fifth grade.
“It goes without saying they are so into this and they were so excited,” Ostrom said. “I want to thank you on their behalf.”
Their 18 sections ended in a tie – with nine sections choosing North Star Elementary and nine chose Horace Mann.
School Board members comment
School board members were allowed to comment prior to the vote.
“I might not have grown up here, but I do know a few things about naming,” Nyamal Dei said. “The naming of the new Northside Elementary School, this decision represents the value, the commitment that will guide every student experience. Our Fargo Board, our Fargo Public School mission is to educate and empower all students to succeed should be reflected in every aspect of this school.”
School board member Jason Nelson said he believes schools should be named after people.
“It gives the students there someone to look up to research and learn more about,” he said. “For example, many students in our district who would not know who Ronald Davies was if that school wasn’t named after him.”
Robin Nelson, Fargo School Board Vice President, spoke to the precedent set for retaining names prior to the update of administrative policy.
“The examples were Jefferson Elementary, which was rebuilt on its original site and retained its name, as well as Carl Ben Eielson Elementary, which is now a middle school,” she said.
Nelson also spoke to the pride and history in the neighborhood served by this school.
“The history and pride of that neighborhood is something that one cannot explain unless they were raised in it,” she said. “There is a lot of history and current development in Fargo that came out of that neighborhood purely out of, it was one of the center core neighborhoods in Fargo.”
