VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – Yard signs have been appearing around Valley City and the entire state of North Dakota that say “North Dakotans for Public Schools.” The project and the yard signs aim to counteract attacks on public education and public schools.

Nick Archuleta, North Dakota United union leader, hopes this new project will bring awareness to the importance of public education. North Dakotans for Public Schools aims to reshape the public’s perception of public education and debunk misinformation about what is happening in North Dakota schools, said Archuleta, president of North Dakota United, a union representing public school teachers, employees and students with over 11,500 members across the state. “What we have seen over the course of the last couple decades really is an unprecedented attack on public schools,” he said. “(Past generations) always looked at education as the solution to our nation’s problems. And for the last 20 years, that has been flipped around. We’ve seen people that are constantly assuming that our nation’s problems are the result of public education, which is not true and it’s not fair.”

The Prairie Briefing, a daily email newsletter about all things North Dakota report that North Dakotans for Public Schools was formed during the 2025 legislative session in a partnership between North Dakota United, North Dakota School Boards Association, North Dakota Council of Educational Leaders and North Dakota Small Organized Schools. Archuleta said the
program was created to “strengthen, protect and celebrate” public schools, particularly in a time when public education has been targeted politically.”

If you would like to show your support of public education through a yard sign contact Sharon Buhr, (840-0973) a former Valley City Public School board member, VCPS Education Foundation Board Member and long time supporter of public education.