Rapid City board approves $107 million bond referendum for November ballot

The Rapid City Area School District board voted unanimously on April 7 to place a $107 million school bond referendum on the November 2026 ballot, approving the measure 7-0 by roll call.

District staff told the board the package narrows a previously larger proposal to concentrate on the highest-priority, near-term projects identified in a multi-year facilities master plan. "This has been a long windy path to get here," the district presenter said, summarizing years of assessment, community listening sessions and technical planning. Staff said the revised package reduced the ask from $125 million to $107 million in direct response to community concerns about cost and tax impact.

Under the district’s amortization model — a 20-year repayment with conservative valuation growth assumptions — staff estimated the bond would require a levy of about $0.49 per $1,000 of assessed valuation, which the district translated as roughly $196 per year for a $400,000 property. The package is focused on: priority HVAC and energy-efficiency projects; targeted safety and access upgrades at multiple schools; a renovation and addition to South Park Elementary; construction of a new elementary on the Parkview property to address eastern growth; and safety/circulation improvements at Stevens High School.

Supporters at the meeting framed the referendum as an investment in the community and in student safety. Mayor Solomon told the board, "It is about investing in the next generation," and urged transparent communication with voters. Superintendent Dr. Thompson said the bond is "fiscally responsible for our taxpayers" and argued the plan is necessary to ensure that "every student within RCAS deserves a safe, comfortable place to learn, and this plan delivers that." Board members described the package as a deliberately smaller, more-targeted ask designed to balance urgent facility needs with community capacity to pay.

Public commenters offered both support and criticism. Longtime educator and city councilor Mr. Evans said longstanding inequities remain, calling conditions at Stevens "ridiculous" and "discriminatory," and warned of organized opposition if disparities are not addressed; board members and staff replied that some projects at Stevens are already underway and reiterated that the full facilities master plan lists additional priorities to be phased over time.

If approved by voters, the district would issue general-obligation bonds backed by a dedicated levy. Under South Dakota law the referendum requires a 60% supermajority to pass. The board’s action places the question before voters; the district and campaign supporters said they will undertake outreach this summer and fall to explain projects and estimated tax impacts.

The board’s 7-0 vote to place the bond on the November ballot concluded the meeting’s main business; the district now faces a voter decision in November 2026.