South Dakota / School Districts / Rapid City Area School District 51-4
Administrators told the board a student‑drafted memorandum supports a house bill to allow a half PE credit for participation in school‑sanctioned athletics; the student presenter will appear at the next meeting and the memorandum will appear on the consent agenda or as a separate action item.
South Dakota / School Districts / Rapid City Area School District 51-4
Rapid City Public School Foundation told trustees it awarded $7,315 in grants this year including a Meadowbrook hydroponics project, an after‑school guitar program at General Beadle, a Morning Nest at Wilson Elementary, and Johnson Trust funding for trail cameras and a commissioned band piece.
South Dakota / School Districts / Rapid City Area School District 51-4
Superintendent and CFO told the school board the governor’s proposed 0% K‑12 increase and falling enrollment mean sharp state aid drops; the district estimates a potential $1.8–2.2 million hit to its general fund and urged advocacy with legislators.
South Dakota / School Districts / Rapid City Area School District 51-4
District staff proposed moving the strategic plan's community pillar metric from counting volunteers to counting active community partners who provide capstone college‑and‑career experiences; presentation outlined three volunteer clearance levels and survey feedback from 17 principals.
South Dakota / School Districts / Rapid City Area School District 51-4
Trustees approved proposed agreements and memoranda of understanding, adopted the consent agenda by voice vote, and later moved into executive session under cited statutory provisions for personnel matters.
South Dakota / School Districts / Rapid City Area School District 51-4
Board member-led budget briefing explained a 5.62% increase in district property valuation (total just over $14.5 billion), limits on capital outlay tied to a 'growth plus 3%' formula and the $3 per $1,000 cap, and concern that a governor's 0% state‑aid recommendation would not cover inflationary pressures on schools.
South Dakota / School Districts / Rapid City Area School District 51-4
A board member expressed discomfort with invocation being on the agenda, citing separation of church and state and inclusivity concerns; the board president said policy allows anyone to request the invocation through the district secretary and that the policy is not restricted to any single faith.
South Dakota / School Districts / Rapid City Area School District 51-4
Superintendent Dr. Thompson and Title 1D principal Justin Conroy described a successful drive-through food pantry (Nov. 20) that served over 130 families (more than 500 individuals) in about 90 minutes — a 44% increase over typical pantry nights — and noted a $10,000 anonymous donation.
South Dakota / School Districts / Rapid City Area School District 51-4
Board members and staff told the Rapid City Area Schools Board of Education that although district property valuation rose about 5.6% for taxes payable 2026, legislative reductions to classification levies and capital outlay formula limits mean general-fund local effort will be nearly flat while capital outlay growth is constrained by a growth-plus-3% rule and a $3-per-$1,000 ceiling.
South Dakota / School Districts / Rapid City Area School District 51-4
Superintendent reported an expanded drive-through food pantry distributed to more than 130 families (over 500 individuals), supported by an anonymous $10,000 donation; students from Stevens and Central high schools highlighted upcoming concerts, fundraisers and extracurricular achievements.