Valley News Live - KVLY/KXJB - Fargo/Grand ForksSex Offender in Fargo Public Schools

Sex Offender in Fargo Public Schools

A Valley News Live investigation has uncovered the alarming number of teenage sex offenders in North Dakota. 115 are currently registered in the state -- some may be attending the same school as your child and you may not even know it.

School officials are notified if a student commits such an offense but by federal law -- they're not allowed to notify parents. Mike Schmidt and his wife have looked at websites profiling sex offenders before but never thought one of those faces could be going to their daughter's school.

"Every night you get notified you get a sex offender moving in and having a meeting because he's moving in," says Schmidt.

But under a federal privacy law, school officials say they cannot inform parents if a teenage sex offender attends a public school. They say it's in the hands of the police -- who send notifications to neighborhoods and the media if a moderate to high risk sex offender moves in.

That information is public and posted on Fargo Police's website and Facebook page but is confidential once sex offenders enter school grounds.

Fargo Public Schools Superintendent, Rick Buresh, admits it's a bit of a catch-22 -- while student safety is their priority, they are also, by law, supposed to ensure every child, despite their criminal record, gets an education.

"It is kind of a conflicting public policies," says Buresh. "Presumably, they've gone through treatment or some kind of assessment or threat level that's been determined. So that would be helpful to us."

It's a delicate balancing act that requires an in-depth screening process from a team of professionals. Not to mention continuous monitoring during the school-year.

"I hope that most people can be rehabilitated and redirected in more positive ways," says Buresh. 

In his experience, Buresh says juvenile sex offenders are less likely to strike again than adult offenders and have a better chance of turning their lives around. The superintendent says not all juvenile sex offenders are admitted to Fargo's Public Schools. Those who pose a high risk could be forced to be home-schooled, sent to juvenile detention centers, or sent to special youth programs.

Story at 6:00

A valley news live investigation has uncovered 115 teenagers, who are registered as juvenile sex offenders in the state. While we don't know how many are attending a North Dakota school, we do know there's one in the Fargo Public Schools System. It's an alarming discovery for parents, who by law, aren't notified by the school.

Mike Schmidt never thought a sex offender could be in the same class with his daughter. We asked him what he thought.

"Wow. That's surprising isn't it?" says Schmidt. "I don't think anybody would want that in their backyard would they?"

The North Dakota Attorney General's Office tells Valley News Live 115 teenagers under the age of 18 are currently registered as juvenile sex offenders. While he couldn't tell how many are currently enrolled in a North Dakota school, we have confirmed that one is attending a Fargo Public High School. It's information that school officials would know about, but because of a federal privacy law, parents are not told.

"We are not allowed to be sharing information about individual students," says Buresh.

Fargo Public Schools Superintendent, Rick Buresh, says in the past five years, three juvenile sex offenders have been admitted to the school system. He says it's a thorough screening process involving a team of counselors, staff, and the school's resource officer. They assess the teenager's criminal history and risk of re-offending.

"If we can educate them separately in the general school setting that's the preferable place. If their risk factors are not appropriate, then we would work out a separate plan," says Buresh.

Buresh says not all juvenile sexual offenders who walk through their doors are admitted to public schools. Those who pose a high threat are told to be home schooled, incarcerated and put into special programs with other teenage criminal offenders.

But for Schmidt, knowing a juvenile sexual offender could be around campus is a little too close for comfort.

"That just means there are 115 undesirables running around."