SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO.com) — Prior to COVID-19 concerns impacting our city, the Sioux Falls School District and many community stakeholders invested significant time to the topic of redrawing school attendance boundaries.
A task force of 30 members met three times. Nearly 400 comments and ideas came in via the Let’s Talk! feature. Unfortunately, the first case of coronavirus appeared just before the first of five community engagement meetings were to be held.
Despite this, the District believes it is important to keep the original June 2020 timeline for a decision. The new boundaries would then be implemented one year later (Fall 2021) with the opening of Thomas Jefferson High School and Ben Reifel Middle School.
While in-person meetings are not possible, the District has implemented a dial-in conference calling option so community engagement meetings can continue with the required social distancing.
Five virtual public meetings will be held on the following dates/times:
• Monday, May 4, 2020, at 7 pm
• Saturday, May 9, 2020, at 10 am
• Monday, May 11, 2020, at 6 pm
• Thursday, May 14, 2020, at Noon
• Monday, May 18, 2020, at 7 pm
All meetings will start with a short presentation before calls are taken by phone. Those who wish to ask a question or make a comment will dial in on the conference line. Those who wish to observe the meeting, but do not have an intention to speak, can view the meeting through the District’s youtube channel.
Detailed instructions for calling in and watching online will be featured on the front page of the District’s website at least 24-hours prior to each meeting.
Following the last call-in meeting on May 18, 2020, the 30-member task force will meet (virtually) one final time on Tuesday, May 26 at 7 pm before the school board members vote on new attendance boundaries on Monday, June 22, 2020.
(The Sioux Falls School Districted contributed this report/news release.)
