Citizens for Better School Planning Records

Collection

Identifier: Mss 192

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The actions of the Citizens for Better School Planning demonstrate that citizen involvement in politics can help to determine civic affairs. The Citizens for Better School Planning records were amassed by Jack Carter and consist primarily of newspaper clippings. There are also pamphlets and correspondence which chronicle the activities and objectives of the organization. Originally, the records were kept by Mr. Carter in a scrapbook which was rearranged into ten topical files, following roughly the activities of the group. The map in the first folder shows the original site for Fargo North High School, as well as a detailed account of an early meeting of group in1961. The tax file contains data about Fargo in 1961 and revenue data from 1962. The Fargo North High School file contains newspaper articles and pamphlets which argue the need for a new school on Fargo’s north side (1961-1963). There is a transcript of the September 8, 1961 television program, paid for by the Citizens for Better School Planning, as well as questions raised to the Fargo School Board during the program. The School Board file contains the findings of a PTA Study Committee regarding the need for a new high school, letters to and from the school board, and articles pertaining to the board (1961-1965). The school bonding file is a collection of newspaper articles pertaining to school bonding issues (1961-1966). The Red River Valley Fairgrounds file consists of newspaper articles pertaining to the relocation of the fairgrounds (1961-1971). The bank statements document the finances of the group in 1963. The North High School construction file consists of newspaper articles pertaining to the early stages of the high school’s construction (19631968).

Dates

1961-1971

Creator

Citizens for Better School Planning (Fargo, N.D.) (Organization)

Access

The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the Institute.

Copyrights

The Institute holds the copyrights.

History

The Citizens for Better School Planning was a civic organization, organized circa 1961, comprised of residents from the north side of Fargo, N.D. Jack Carter, a former NDSU agronomy professor, was a founding member as well as vice chairperson of the organization. Jack Whittlesey served as chairperson; Mrs. Ray Miller, Paul Pancratz, Homer Goebel, Jackson Riedesel and John Korsmo were also members. There were as many as 993 members at one time. Unfortunately, there is no complete list of members. The goal of the Citizens for Better School Planning was to propose a site for the new Fargo North High School. The organization had three objectives: 1) to oppose and defeat the bond issue which would have placed the new high school in the far northeast corner of Fargo, 2) to support a bond issue to build the school on the former Red River Valley Fairgrounds, and 3) to help the fair board move. All three objectives were met successfully.