FLOOD UPDATE: Fargo, Moorhead schools closed next week, other districts may follow suit

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In anticipation of the flood fight continuing into next week, area schools are shutting down school.

Moorhead and Fargo Public Schools as well as the Catholic Schools Network and Oak Grove Lutheran School have now canceled school all next week.

"It's going to continue to be a mess," Fargo Superintendent Rick Buresh said.

Buresh said there are several factors responsible for closing schools: Transportation around town is going to be difficult because of major roads being closed; school buildings could be used as shelters, if they're aren't already; families are being evacuated; and other schools have the possibility of being flooded if dikes fail - although they aren't concerned that will happen yet.

Yet, "the possibility is grave enough," Buresh said.

The Fargo School Board will meet in special session at 10 a.m. Monday in the Fargo School District Office Board Room, 415 N. 4th St., in Fargo to discuss flood issues.

In the meantime, other K-12 school districts expect to follow suit and close school next week, although they didn't make an official announcments yet.

West Fargo Superintendent Dana Diesel Wallace said that, while "we lean in that direction," they don't expect to make an official decision until Sunday.

If they do close schools, it would likely be because buildings are being used by emergency personnel, she said. The district has an agreement with the American Red Cross that they can use their buildings during a situation like this.

Already, L.E. Berger Elementary is being used now as a command center for local police and rescue crews. And West Fargo school buses were used to help evacuate elderly Fargo residents on Thursday.

North Dakota Gov. John Hoeven said this morning that the state will help schools, forgiving them for missed days due to their disaster.

In Minnesota, Moorhead Public Schools officials closed school all next week (March 30-April 3).

In Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton School District, Superintendent Randy Bruer said they'll wait until Sunday to make a decision.

"It's very possible we won't begin (school) right away Monday," he said. "(But) we're kind of in a holding pattern (now)."

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