School bond votes can often close the gap between cash-strapped school districts and much-needed infrastructure upgrades. In Rapid City, it’s been over a half century since the last bond passed.
A new administration thinks this could be a different situation, though, as a bond issue is being studied for the community.
The district’s financial and operations manager Coy Sasse said leaders are taking lessons from the failed 2020 bond.
"We went through a strategic planning process in which facilities were a major priority. And, again, trying to better understand how we craft a package to take forth to the community,” Sasse said.
Sasse said the district believes this investment is worth making for the community’s future.
“The infrastructure piece goes so far past just having a nice building," Sasse said. "It plays so heavily into the safety and security of our staff and students, the morale of our employees, the investment in the community in the ways school facilities support the enrichment of our community, and our ability to attract businesses and people who want to live here.”
The latest bond measure requests $125 million.
Early survey results show 58% of respondents are in favor of the proposal. A 60% majority is required by state law for a school bond to pass.