North Dakota School for the Deaf Society

May 24, 2005 letter to alumni in response to ND State School Supt. Sanstead's comment related to NDSD Supt. Cofer's resignation Dear NDSD Alumni, As most of you already know that Rocky Cofer, NDSD Superintendent announced his resignation last week. A newspaper article quoted Dr. Wayne Sanstead, the State School Superintendent, "Sanstead said he didn't know when or if a replacement would be sought. He said the future of the school is in question because enrollment has declined in recent years." Sanstead's comment is alarming because he is hinting that the North Dakota School for the Deaf may ACTUALLY close in the near future. You can read the article in its entirety at http://www.grandforks.com/mld/grandforks/11689933.htm Did you know that the State of North Dakota can come up with creative ways to continue NDSD's historic role in educating deaf and hard of hearing children? Oh yes, they could but they are not doing this. The NDSD Society wants to help the State to come up with a better plan. Among several reasons, the possibility of closing the North Dakota School for the Deaf led to the establishment of the NDSD Society, a non-profit organization dedicated to preservance and advocacy of the North Dakota School for the Deaf as an educational institution and a viable educational choice for deaf and hard of hearing children in the State of North Dakota. The Society is open to all NDSD alumni, parents of NDSD students and alumni, NDSD staff and teachers, and supporters. No membership due is required. Voluntary action and financial support from those fine folks will help the NDSD Society preserve NDSD's historic role in deaf education in the State of North Dakota. During the all-school reunion at NDSD in Devils Lake, a presentation and question & answer session on the new organization will be conducted on Friday night. You are urged to attend the presentation and session to learn more what you can do for the Society and what the Society can do for NDSD. We need to come to a decision what path the NDSD Society should take in the next several years to ensure NDSD's historic role continues in North Dakota. Your participation at the 2005 All-School Reunion could not be more important than ever in the history. You can be assured the Devils Lake Journal will publish an article or two about our concerns and what NDSD meant to us. What can you do now? Register for the reunion and come to show the Devils Lake community as well as the State of North Dakota how much you care about NDSD. The more alumni show up at the reunion the better! We are aiming for more than 200 or 250 alumni at the reunion. The deadline for NDSD Reunion registration is approaching fast! This coming Saturday, May 28th is the deadline for early bird registration fee of $60. The fee will increase $5.00 to $65.00 between May 28th and June 15th. At door registration fee will be $70.00. As long as your letter is postmarked May 28th, we will accept $60 registration fees. Attached is the registration form and revised schedule for the reunion. Proceeds from the reunion will be used to advance the NDSD Society's mission to protect NDSD against the state government's ignorance about NDSD's historic role. Additional support in the form of financial and voluntary action from alumni, parents, staff and teachers will also boost the Society's efforts. Any question about the reunion registration, please contact Bobby Balzer, '77 at rrbalzer@comcast.net. See you at the reunion! Bobby Balzer, '77, Reunion Co-Chairperson and NDSD Society Co-Founder Laura Sagstuen, '98, Reunion Co-Chairperson James L. Johnson, '85, NDSD Society Co-Founder P.S. Please forward this important message to all NDSD alumni, staff and teachers (both current and retired) in your address book. Thanks!