Plan Calls for Closure, Construction of Rapid City Schools

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 Journal reports the plan was released February 8th. 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.

School board president Jim Hansen stressed during a meeting that the plans includes "ideas," and the board would decide on which parts, if any, to follow through with.

At the elementary level, the plan's options include closing four or five schools, replacing three, and building two new ones.

Assistant Superintendent Dave Janak said he expects there will be five town hall meetings on the plan through March.