BISMARCK - The state board that licenses North Dakota teachers will investigate misconduct allegations against a Fargo North High School teacher and coach who resigned early this month.
The Education Standards and Practices Board met Monday and asked Executive Director Janet Welk to collect information on the incident prompting Brent Offerdahl's June 4 resignation.
Offerdahl taught math and was head basketball coach at Fargo North for five seasons. He had been at the school since 1996.
Bev Christopherson, parent of a recent Fargo North graduate, said Offerdahl propositioned her 17-year-old daughter at a restaurant as the school year was coming to a close.
Christopherson said her daughter was one of Offerdahl's algebra students.
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Offerdahl could not be reached for comment Monday. Multiple messages seeking an interview were left unreturned on his home and cell phone.
If found in violation of the standards and practices board's policies, Offerdahl could lose his teaching license.
After the school district began an investigation into allegations of "conduct unbecoming a teacher," Offerdahl resigned. The district said that action ended its investigation.
The 10-member state board said Fargo schools did not lodge a complaint with them or notify its office of the allegations.
Welk and board members said their interest was prompted by The Forum's June 5 story on the school district complaint and Offerdahl's resignation.
The board would not have known of the allegations "were it not for this newspaper article," said board member Dan Vainonen of Jamestown.
Welk said it is not unprecedented for the board to start a case based on news articles.
"We get a lot of cases that way," she said.
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Fargo Superintendent David Flowers said the state board's vote to investigate was a surprise.
"We'll cooperate with any inquiry or investigation ESPB makes, to the degree legal constraints allow," he said. "In light of what our investigation found, we believe Offerdahl's resignation was appropriate and we did not have further evidence that more action was required."
Welk said she may call on the services of a private investigator the board office has used before. Once she or the investigator has gathered information, Offerdahl will be asked to respond.
Bill Peterson, assistant attorney general for the board, said Welk should request information from the school district, Christopherson and her daughter, Fargo police and Cass County Social Services, which became involved because the allegations came from a juvenile.
Fargo police said on June 4 that, after meeting with Social Services workers, they believed the case did not involve criminal activity.
Peterson said he doubts Cass County Social Services will release any information to Welk's office. Social Services told The Forum on June 4 that it could neither confirm nor deny it was investigating such a case.
Bev Christopherson was out of her office Monday and could not be reached for comment. A message was left there. Her home phone is unlisted.
Reporter Erin Hemme Froslie contributed to this story
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Readers can reach Forum reporter Janell Cole at (701) 224-0830
