Happy Wednesday! Megan here.
Weather check: Heatin' up
Status check: There are quite a few new folks reading Sioux Falls Simplified, and I gotta tell ya, it's cool AF. Whether this is your first newsletter or you've been reading for years, thanks for being here. 🫶
This week, you'll find a lot of focus on mental health, which I find particularly relevant during National Suicide Prevention Week. Plus, after much deliberation, the city finally has a 2026 budget. I've got the rundown on which proposed cuts stayed and which ones the City Council reversed. Oh, and don't miss a bunch of Super Simplified Stories followed by a bunch of events. Fall fun is in full swing, babiessssss.
- 🚨 PSA: If you or someone you know is struggling with depression or thoughts of suicide, help is out there. Call 988 for the national suicide hotline, or, if you're not sure what you need, call 211 and someone with the Helpline Center will be there to help you.
And now, news:
EDUCATION
How community partnerships are supporting mental health in schools
Simplified: A new partnership between the Sioux Falls School District, Avera Health and the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation will embed licensed therapists in local schools to help address kids' mental health needs.
Why it matters
- School counselors are spread quite thin in Sioux Falls, though they're in every school building. For each counselor, there are about 356 students – significantly more than the recommended ratio from the American School Counselor Association, which is 250 students to one counselor.
- The Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation worked to secure funding to support the new partnership – several details of which will remain a mystery at this time, including the total amount given and the name of the now-anonymous donor.
- To start, the partnership will bring embedded mental health counselors from Avera Family Wellness to five schools for a three-year pilot program. The idea is the counselors will take over a caseload of 125 students for those three years.
"We see this also as a way to provide that early intervention and support that whole student with their social, emotional, and mental health and wellbeing," said Heidi Thomas, a social worker with Avera Family Wellness.
Tell me more
CITY
What's in Sioux Falls' final 2026 budget?
Simplified: The Sioux Falls City Council this week gave final approval to a roughly $776 million budget, but not before dealing with what councilors said was a particularly tough budget year. Here's a look at the final totals and what last-minute changes were made Tuesday night.
Why it matters
- Tuesday's final vote came after several weeks of budget hearings and several months of planning both within the city administration and the council itself.
- Mayor Paul TenHaken initially proposed cuts to libraries, pools and city subsidies for nonprofit partners. Many of those proposed cuts were walked back by the City Council, who moved several hundred thousand dollars around to keep those services largely in place.
- All told, the council passed seven amendments to the budget, including prioritizing pools, libraries, neighborhoods and economic development.
"I want to make a strong statement tonight that we should be in the business of funding community priorities," Councilor Rich Merkouris said. "And whether we fund those community priorities through government employees or through outside contractors, we should choose that which is the most efficient and the most effective."
Tell me more about the budget overall
SIMPLIFIED PRESENTS
'Chip in' for mental health with this new golf event
This is a paid piece from Encompass Mental Health.
Simplified: A new golf tournament next month will give folks a chance to play one of Sioux Falls' most exclusive courses while also raising money to support the costs of play therapy that meets kids where they are.
Why it matters
- Encompass Mental Health will host the inaugural Chipping In for Mental Health golf tournament on Oct. 6 at The Country Club of Sioux Falls. Funds raised from the tournament will support mental health services in Sioux Falls.
- The tournament will be a four-person scramble followed by refreshments and awards. Teams can sign up to play for $600, or businesses can sponsor the event and get as many as three teams included.
- One of the long-term fundraising goals for Encompass is to raise $100,000 to convert a transit van into a mobile play therapy unit. This would help therapists have a dedicated, safe and private space for when they meet kids at schools and daycare facilities.
"Right now our therapists that go into schools and daycares are bringing in a roller suitcase ... they're trying to do arts and crafts but might be working on the floor," said Madison Kyle, Encompass' director of outreach. "To have a space that is uniquely designed and private will ensure that we're delivering on the high quality that we're known for and is important to us."
Tell me more about the tournament
TL;DR
Super Simplified Stories
- Fewer kindergarteners drive lower enrollment. The Sioux Falls School District released its preliminary enrollment data for the 2025-26 school year with 24,290 students. There are about four dozen fewer kindergarteners, and overall about 140 fewer elementary schoolers. Overall, enrollment is about flat year-over-year, but it's likely the final number will change when the final enrollment is taken at the end of the month due to any last-minute transfers, no shows, etc., according to Director of Data Services Doug Morrison. See the full report here.
- Shoes for kids. Local food truck owner Rudy Navarrete has been raising money to buy new, brand-name shoes for kids at the Boys & Girls Club for years now, and this year is no different. With support from Trade Home Shoes, Navarrete will be giving away shoes to kids in the K-5 after-school programs at Cleveland and Laura B. Anderson Elementary Schools on Wednesday.
- More golf happening. The Sanford International PGA golf tournament is in town this week, and if you're into golf you can get tickets and watch the action go down. Find a schedule of events and ticket details here.
- ❄️ Plow, baby, plow. City Council voted 8-0 on Tuesday to approve up to $8 million for the city to buy motor graders to clear roads. Historically, the city has leased these vehicles, but the goal is to ultimately save money over a 15-year period by buying instead of leasing.
- The vote came after a deferral to give the council time to talk about whether it was a worthwhile investment, and ultimately the council amended to make sure if a bid to purchase comes in under $8 million, any remaining funds go back to the general fund.
EVENTS
Stuff to do: Sept. 10-16
- Support indigenous artists. Good Earth State Park is hosting an event from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday supporting Indigenous culture with art, music, food, vendors and more. Details here.
- 🍻 Say, 'Prost.' Remedy Brewing is bringing a day of Bavarian fun with Oktoberfest all day Saturday. Find live music, German food, a stein-holding showdown and more. Details here.
- Chat about conservation. The city parks team is hosting a "Conservation in the City" event Saturday morning at Lloyd Landing, the area near the river and the Steel District. You'll find family friendly activities, hands-on art projects and free Parlour ice cream while supplies last. The event is free and open to the public. Swing by between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday.
- Lego for ag nerds. Stockyards Ag Experience is teaming up with Bricks and Minifigs for an event Saturday morning where you can build your own Lego farm habitat. It's $10 to participate, and it says it's just for kids, so sorry, grown-ups. Details and tickets here.
- Go skating. The parks and recreation department is hosting a Retro Skate Party at Jacobson Plaza on Saturday with throwback tunes, skates available for rental and plenty of opportunity for costumes. It's all going down 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday.
- Explore the scouts. Girl Scouts Dakota Horizons is hosting a handful of events this week to help girls explore the possibilities of what they can do as a scout. There are three upcoming events in Sioux Falls, and quite a few across the state if you're in another area. More details here.
THIS AND THAT
What I'm falling for this week:
ICYMI
More Simplified Stories
Megan Raposa
Megan Raposa
Makayla Voris
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Thank you
Thank you to Sioux Falls Simplified sponsors, including Downtown Sioux Falls, Inc., Live on Stage, SafeSplash Swim School, Dakota State University, Redmond Prime Cuts, Great Bear Ski Valley, Encompass Mental Health, the Sioux Falls YMCA, EmBe, the Sioux Falls Development Foundation, Barre3 Sioux Falls, the Sioux Falls Zoo and Aquarium, the Washington Pavilion and the Sioux Metro Growth Alliance. When you support them, you're also supporting Sioux Falls Simplified.
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