Simplified: The Sioux Falls School Board this week discussed the pros and cons of closing the district's smallest elementary school. Here's a closer look at what's next for Renberg Elementary.
Why it matters
- Renberg Elementary has just over 100 students, and it's in an area that's not seeing the same level of growth as other parts of Sioux Falls. Assistant Superintendent Dan Conrad noted that much of the attendance area is either zoned for industrial development, flood plain or not on the city's 2050 plan for growth areas.
- Closing Renberg Elementary has potential to bring between $500,000 and $700,000 in annual savings for the school district, according to Superintendent Jamie Nold. The closure would also mean most of the kids at Renberg would spend less time on buses and attend school in a building closer to their homes.
- But parents of students at Renberg said the small school is a community worth preserving. Several parents spoke at Wednesday's board meeting, sharing what Renberg Elementary means to them.
"I think Renberg's thing that they do (best) is that one-on-one and that personal growth that (students) get from a tight-knit community that they’re not going to get elsewhere," said parent Joshua LaMar.
Tell me more
One of the "pros" for closing Renberg is the cost savings, which would come at a time when the district is facing some tough budgetary decisions. Sioux Falls schools cut $3 million from the budget this coming year, and the next budget is expected to see another $1 million cut, Nold said.
- Meanwhile, state lawmakers are falling short of promised funding increases, and Nold said he's bracing for a 0% increase in school funds next year.
Closing the school would also save time and money on busing. Conrad noted that many Renberg students travel close to five miles to get to school each day.
Another interesting dynamic at play is the makeup of the students at Renberg. More than 30% of students receive special education services, which Nold attributes to the ease of open enrolling at Renberg because of its low enrollment.
- For context, about 16% of students district-wide receive special education services.
What happens next?
Nold said the initial plan was to vote this month on closing Renberg Elementary at the end of the current school year.
- However, feedback from parents and staff have shifted that vote back a year. The board is expected to revisit this conversation next fall with a final vote around November 2026 on whether to close the school.
If the school board does opt to close Renberg, Nold emphasized that teachers and staff would still have jobs within the district.
