South Dakota school addresses space issues for students

ELK POINT, S.D. (KCAU)– In 2022, Elk Point-Jefferson Community School officials attempted to pass a school bond to address space issues for their cafeteria and middle school. However, it didn’t pass.

Years later, the school district has made some changes and hopes to get the okay from the community.

“Over the last few years,” superintendent Philip Schonebaum said, “the school board has been working basically tirelessly to find some initiative that we can do to address some of the needs that we need without going to a bond and raising school district taxes.”

More than 50 years ago, Elk Point, South Dakota opened its school to the town’s families, and years later Jefferson’s residents as well. With the two towns joined together under one school district, student attendance has continued to grow, which officials say is both good and bad for the district.

“During lunch time we have anywhere from kindergarten through 12th grade students using this small area here, which is about my wingspan across.,” Schonebaum said. “With the space concerns, we start lunch at about 10:50am and end lunch at about 1:30pm, so we have a very long lunch period.”

However, the cafeteria is only one problem, as the school is desperately in need of space for students.

“We have eight classrooms behind me and this houses our middle school,” Schonebaum said. “Right now we have about 140 students. Over the last five years we’ve been anywhere from 140 to 175 students that are contained within the eight-classroom hall behind me.”

To address both issues, Elk Point-Jefferson officials have found a way to kill two birds with one stone.

“What if we actually add on the lunchroom and remodel that space, the existing lunchroom space, for educational space, and that’s what we’ll present on [Tuesday] night,” Schonebaum said. “The lunchroom would actually be an expansion project of a new kitchen and then a new multi-purpose cafeteria space. Where the kitchen was right now, it’s slated to be a middle school science room.”

All district officials need now is the approval from the community to begin the next stage of planning, and one parent of three said he’s all for it.

“I’d really like to see the kids have everything they need to be successful,” father and Elk Point Police Chief Jacob Limoges said “If improving the school makes this community school more successful, that’s an amazing thing.”

People who have questions or want to learn more about the proposals can attend the special board meeting on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Elk Point-Jefferson High School Gym.

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