Happy Friday! Megan here.
Weather check: Hot
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This week, I am once again asking you to stop reading emails and go play outside before school starts. (I know grown ups don't get summers off, but we should, dang it!) Anyway, before you go hit the pool one last time, catch up on a big announcement from the 'Yotes, updates on teacher hiring, some good news for Lincoln High students and a reminder of all of the events happening to help you make the most of the last weekend before school starts back up again.
And now, news:
EDUCATION
USD medical school announces move to Sioux Falls
Simplified: South Dakota's only medical school is relocating to the state's largest city. Here's what you need to know about the University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine's future in Sioux Falls.
Why it matters
- Sioux Falls is home to three of the four largest health care systems in the state – Sanford Health, Avera Health and the Veterans Affairs Medical Center – which means many aspiring medical professionals were already trekking up from Vermillion for hands-on learning.
- On Thursday, USD President Sheila Gestring announced the first 18 months of the medical school program will move to Sioux Falls and be housed within Sanford Health facilities until a new, permanent building can be erected within the next decade.
- In addition, USD is also moving its Division of Biomedical and Translational Science to Sioux Falls – which will mean more opportunities for collaborative research and more interaction between researchers and the patients they aim to help.
- Despite the move to a more urban environment, the medical school will continue its longstanding emphasis on making sure rural communities have enough doctors.
"Please, make no mistake," Dean Dr. Tim Ridgway said. "This move to Sioux Falls does nothing to diminish our commitment to rural healthcare across South Dakota."
Tell me more
TL;DR
Super Simplified Stories
- Soak up the last bit of summer.* Want to have a little "end of summer" celebration? Consider taking the family out to The Lodge at Jacobson Plaza for burgers, fries, ice cream -- and even an adult beverage for the grown ups. Plus, after a tasty and affordable meal, the whole family can enjoy Sioux Falls' largest playground. Check out the menu here.
- Cliff Avenue to reopen. The city announced this week that Cliff Avenue at Interstate 229 will be open to one lane of traffic in each direction starting Thursday, Aug. 21 (also the first day of school for the kids at Lincoln High School). It'll still be an active construction zone, so if you're already in the habit of avoiding it, probably continue to do that.
- While we're at it, remember to drive safely. School starts back up in Sioux Falls next week for thousands of kids, and that means drivers oughta pay a little extra attention.
- The city shared a few safety tips this week, including reminders to follow the speed limit – especially in school zones, put your phones down, watch for kids at crosswalks, prepare for a little more traffic than usual to account for the back-to-school crowd, and use alternate routes around schools when you can. Oh, and if you see a school bus stop with red flashing lights, you should stop, too.
- Lotsa teachers, need subs. The Sioux Falls School District has filled nearly all open teaching positions for the upcoming school year, as Director of Human Resources Becky Dorman told the school board Monday afternoon. The district hired 130 new teachers (down from previous years) and promoted 56 existing district employees to teaching positions. The district has also seen fewer rejected job offers this year, with 87% of people accepting offers.
- Dorman said the district still needs 250 substitute teachers for the year, and ideally those folks would be trained in before cold and flu season hits.
- No more livestock show. The Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce this week announced that it'll no longer do the annual Sioux Empire Livestock Show, with 2025 marking its final year. The chamber stated the decision was due to "long-term financial challenges, staffing and volunteer limitations and facility constraints." See the full release here.
*Denotes a paid partnership
THIS AND THAT
What I'm falling for this week:
ICYMI
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Megan Raposa
Megan Raposa
Megan Raposa
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