Uniting 4 Ukraine reinstated

"They are much better at this than we are."

Those are the words of Carrington Public School Superintendent Janelle Helm at the Carrington City Council meeting last week, as she spoke about Ukrainian students learning English.

She participated in a discussion about the Uniting 4 Ukraine program with councilmen and talked about the Ukrainian children learning English.

During the meeting held on Tuesday, November 12, Carrington Mayor Tom Erdmann led the discussion. He told the council that he invited school officials to attend the meeting to discuss rumors going around the city about how the school has concerns about educating those children.

He presented a summary of what has taken place since March of 2024, when the city first implemented the Uniting 4 Ukraine program. So far, the city has spent $36,800 in reimbursements to locals sponsoring 20 individuals. Erdmann said he gets phone calls from citizens and businesses about that impact the Ukrainians are having on the school district.

Erdmann talked about how having the Ukrainians here in Carrington benefit the businesses by filling open positions, as well as the humanitarian benefit to them having a safe place to live, work and raise their family.

He noted that the council voted to put the Ukrainian sponsorship program on hold at their meeting in October.

Erdmann then invited Helm to speak.

She began by telling the council that she is very proud of the school's teachers and staff for making every effort to serve the students. Helm told the council that they have various resources available to help the teachers educate all students, including the Ukrainian youth.

She said she has had several phone calls from businesses who are wondering why the school isn't supporting the Uniting 4 Ukraine program, and wants the public to know that she is "not okay" with the public thinking that.

She said, "Legally, we cannot discriminate in the public school system. That would be against the law."

Helm also said that some people think the administration may not be aware of what is going on in the school, relating to teachers' concerns. She said that is not true, and she feels insulted at that insinuation.

"My door is always open," said Helm.

She told the council that the school currently has 576 students with 19 EL (English Learner) students in elementary and six in high school.

Helm explained to the council the process of teaching EL students the English language.

She said the school district is able to support the students as well as the staff. She said they use Google Translate as well as other programs to communicate with the EL students.

"They are much better at this than we are," said Helm.

Helm said she approached several teachers in the school and they told her they feel supported.

She also said they are going to purchase the Rosetta Stone language learning program.

She wants the council and the public to know that the school is fine and wants to see the Uniting 4 Ukraine program continue.

Foster County resident Randy Stedman took to the podium with questions for the council about why they denied the Ukrainian woman who applied to sponsor other Ukrainians.

Erdmann answered him and explained the process the city has to follow.

Lanell Stedman, who coordinates getting the Ukrainians to Carrington, also took to the podium with comments and questions for the council about the program. She said she is concerned about discrimination within the community.

She also told the council that some of the Ukrainians in the community want to sponsor their family members to come live and work here.

Finally, the council heard from Grant Stangeland, who applied to sponsor a Ukrainian family. He said he employs a man whose wife works at a local day care.

"These are exactly the type of people we need in town. They are great workers and great families," said Stangeland.

Erdmann thanked all of them for their comments and support of the program and called for a motion to reinstate the Uniting 4 Ukraine program with a few changes to the application language. Motion passed.

Erdmann said there are two or three applications that will be brought before the council at their next meeting with a preliminary approval first and will then follow the process for a final approval.

In other business:

FIRE:

• Carrington Fire Chief Ken Wangen reported that the fire department received three calls for service within the city and one rural call in October.

• He said they have chosen the new radios they will purchase to be compatible with the new Statewide Interoperability Radio Network, which includes 16 handheld radios and 10 mobile units.

• Finally, Wangen told the council that the railroad donations are starting to show up.

FINANCE & LEGAL:

• Erdmann recapped the city's Finance & Legal meeting, reporting that they will transfer the North Dakota Insurance Reserve Fund balance from Farmer's Union Insurance to Bravera. Motion passed.

ORGANIZATIONAL REVIEW:

• Erdmann reported that the salary pay scale is complete and will include a 20-year step program. He also said city employees will receive a COLA (Cost of Living Adjustment) of 2.50% for 2025. Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance has increased by 12.1% for 2025.

• The annual Waste Management donation to Carrington, a total of $1,500, will be donated to the Carrington Community Foundation.

• Finally, Erdmann said the 1% sales tax was $92,000 ahead of this time last year.

CCEDC:

The minutes of the last CCEDC meeting were read and included:

• There is interest shown in purchasing two lots in the industrial park.

• Discussion was held on developing incentives for anyone interested in building apartment buildings in the city.

• Grant amount of $4,780 will be awarded to Tammy Sorenson of Carrington Gymnastics for the purchase and installation of heating and air conditioning systems at the gymnastics building.

• A Bank of North Dakota Flex PACE interest buydown application from Darin Esser was received. He is working with a local lender to purchase storage units in the city.

A motion was passed to approve the application.

• Dean Hafner submitted receipts for 2021 paid taxes and special assessments on the west side housing development. A motion was passed to reimburse Hafner $480 per unsold lot as per the original agreement dated May 29, 2015. There are 21 unsold lots, so the reimbursement totals $10,080.

• There are three open seats on the CCEDC board. Ashten Dewald is unable to fulfill her full 3-year term, as she is moving back to South Dakota; Nikki Mertz and Deedra Aasand have each completed their terms.

• The verbiage change to the Uniting 4 Ukraine program application is as follows:

Proof of employment in Carrington or within the city's extraterritorial area, signed by the employer, is required.

Grant funds will be disbursed 50% after grant application is received along with receipts, then the remaining 50% will be disbursed after nine months provided all conditions are still being met.

CVB:

• Two donations were received for the Rainbow Gardens project.

AIRPORT:

• The crack sealing company never showed up to do the job.

POLICE:

• There were 327 calls for service in October.

TREE BOARD:

• Blaine Schatz has been appointed to take Kathy Wiederholt's position.

PUBLIC WORKS:

• Flooring for the armory steps has been ordered and will be installed when it arrives.

BUILDING OFFICIAL:

• Public Works Director Jason Wolsky reported that nine building permits were purchased in the month of October.

NO MEETING:

• Library