The Board of Higher Education says a proposed Career Academy, which is to be built in Fargo by the State College of Science in Wahpeton, has not yet received Board approval.
NDSCS has partnered with the college’s foundation on the project. NDSCS President John Richman told the Board the Foundation would own the facility. He said plans have been drawn, land was purchased, and a virtual groundbreaking had been scheduled in May.
But Board member Kathy Neset said the Board only approved fundraising for the project, and that was back in 2017.
"It's quite obvious that the board never approved the project," said Neset, who was the board chair at the time. "All we did was approve the fundraising."
Board member Tim Mihalick agreed.
"Certainly, NDSCS has overstepped its bounds," Mihalick said.
Mihalick chairs the Board’s Budget and Finance Committee – and he said that committee will take a look at the situation, and bring a recommendation to the May Board meeting.