Simplified: The Sioux Falls School District has been talking about the need to replace the century-old Whittier Middle School building for years. But a recent task force convened to look at school district facilities took a much broader scope. Here's a look at where facilities task force conversations landed and what's next.

Why it matters

  • The Sioux Falls School District last looked comprehensively at facilities back in 2018, at which time voters ultimately passed a $180 million bond to fund what is now Jefferson High School, Ben Reifel Middle School and Marcella LeBeau Elementary School.
  • The need to replace Whittier came up in those 2018 discussions, but it ultimately wasn't funded at that time. Now, it's become a much higher priority, task force members told Sioux Falls Simplified.
  • While Whittier is by far the biggest project on the list, task force members considered and ranked the priority of more than three dozen construction projects across the district. Those projects range from something as small as replacing the floor tile in the JFK Elementary bathrooms to a new, $35.8 million elementary school on the west side of town.
"One thing the district is really passionate about is equality for students and making sure they have the same access to programs," task force chair Micki Lundin said. "Even in older buildings, they've figured out how to get that equality as much as humanly possible into those buildings."

Tell me more

The two biggest projects in discussion were, of course, replacing Whittier Middle School (estimated at just shy of $73 million) and building a new west-side elementary school to keep up with increased population growth.

Other big projects discussed include:

  • $13 million for renovations at Washington High School – including science labs, the auditorium, locker rooms and updating all of the ceiling tiles.
  • $10.4 million for renovations at Roosevelt High School for very similar renovations to WHS as well as relocating welding and renovating the tech-ed area.
  • $13.7 million in improvements at Edison Middle School to expand the dining area, reconstruct the auditorium to match Memorial and Ben Reifel and renovate locker rooms.
  • $11.4 million for similar work at Patrick Henry Middle School to reconstruct the auditorium, add classrooms and more miscellaneous improvements.
  • $2 million in improvements to the playground, grass and drop-off lane at Robert Frost Elementary
  • $2 million for an addition at Garfield Elementary.
  • $6 million in improvements to Howard Wood Field.
  • $4.6 million in district-wide security updates.

How did the task force process go?

Task force members were asked to rank the 38 different projects the district put before them. During their four meetings, they got a better understanding of the district's needs, the growth trajectory and why each item was on the list for improvements.

Lim Bun, who leads the Whittier Neighborhood Association, said he appreciated the questions his fellow task force members asked the district.

"I was really happy to see it wasn't a rubber stamp group," Bun said, adding that the 30-member task force really questioned why these projects were needed.

Task force member Mike Gray said what stood out to him was the size difference between some of the older buildings in the core of Sioux Falls compared to the newer schools on the outskirts of town. He was surprised to learn some of those schools don't have green space on their playgrounds and some proposed upgrades included adding some turf.

"Small things like that, I think, have a huge value," Gray said.

Task force member Ellen Doerr said the process was at times overwhelming, but she was pleased to see the mix of people on the task force – including folks from the business community, immigrants, long-time residents – was a good representation of Sioux Falls as a whole.

What happens next?

The task force feedback is now being compiled by a consultant working with the district. That feedback is expected to be presented to the school board in August.

Then, the process will open up for community feedback and listening sessions throughout the fall before the task force reconvenes in December to make final recommendations to the school board.

Whatever the board approves will then likely move to a public vote on a bond to fund the projects, which would take place in April 2027.