In January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported an outbreak of a new strain of Coronavirus, identified as COVID-19, in China. The virus spreads rapidly from person-to-person and primarily affects the respiratory system. Symptoms range from mild to severe illness and even death. The elderly and those of any age with underlying medical conditions may be at higher risk for more severe illness. COVID-19 was first reported in the United States in early February 2020. In early March 2020, the WHO characterized COVID-19 as a world-wide pandemic. By mid-March, all 50 states and four U.S. territories had reported cases of COVID-19.  For more information on COVID-19, please see our resources page.

Fargo Public Schools (FPS) is 100% committed to our mission to educate and empower all students – no matter our current world circumstances. We are committed to providing the safest education environment possible for our students and staff. To that end, for the 2020-21 school year, Fargo Public Schools operated under the “Smart Restart” reentry plan for our students and staff, which included mitigation efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The plan was suspended as of June 7, 2021 and was not in effect for 2021 summer school programming. 

At the August 10, 2021 Fargo Board of Education meeting, Board members approved implementing COVID-19 mitigation strategies recommended by Fargo Cass Public Health for the 2021-22 school year.  These recommendations are due to the changing conditions in our community regarding COVID-19 its impacts of the COVID-19 Delta variant.