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RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — A new long-range plan for the Rapid City school district calls for the closure of some schools and the construction of new ones.
The plan was released Feb. 8, the Rapid City Journal (http://bit.ly/20q4P1W ) reported. District officials cautioned that the facilities improvement report commissioned by the school board that includes an estimated $333 million cost over 10 years is just conceptual, and not a firm blueprint for the district's future.
"These are ideas," School Board President Jim Hansen stressed during the meeting. "The board will have the opportunity to decide what parts, if any, to follow through on."
Representatives from national education consultant MGT of America unveiled their recommendations for how to improve the district's use of existing elementary, middle, and high school buildings in a presentation before the school board.
School buildings, some of which were deemed beyond repair, received a score based on their size, condition, capacity, projected growth of the student body and other factors.
"It's a road map," said MGT vice president Ed Humble. "It says 'Here's where we are today. Here's where we want to be 10 years from now.'"
At the elementary level, the plan's options include closing four or five schools, replacing three, and building two new ones. Possible middle school improvements recommend replacing South and West middle schools with larger buildings on their existing sites, or closing West middle school and renovating North Middle School.
The plan also suggests renovations to Stevens High School, which had the lowest educational suitability marking compared to Central and Rapid City high schools.
Assistant Superintendent Dave Janak said he expects there will be five town hall meetings on the plan through March.
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