Happy Friday! Megan here.
Weather check: Cold (from now until May) and also maybe more snow
This week, you'll learn about a grant bringing new bus shelters across town as well as how schools ranked in terms of safety and security. Plus, catch up on some Super Simplified headlines to carry you through the weekend. Stay warm out there!
And now, news:
CITY
Why Sioux Falls will soon have new bus shelters
Simplified: The City of Sioux Falls received a nearly $2 million federal grant to fund dozens of new bus shelters across town over the next few years. Here's what you need to know.
Why it matters
- Most of the shelters across town are around 30 years old, Transit Program Coordinator Bren Schweitzer said. The funding will ensure the stops are not only updated, but also compliant with ADA accessibility standards.
- The city received just over $1.9 million from the Federal Transit Administration's Bus and Low and No- Emissions Grant award, which is expected to fund between 60 and 80 new shelters.
- The city will use data from bus routes to determine the high-traffic areas that most need the new stops. The design may be a bit "bolder" than what's out there now, Schweitzer said, but it'll ultimately come down to whoever the city chooses to work with through a request-for-proposals (RFP) process.
"At the end of the day, it’ll have to meet budget and realistically what can we do as far as amenities (like heat and electricity)," she added.
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EDUCATION
What we learned from a safety audit of Sioux Falls schools
Simplified: Sioux Falls' public school buildings scored highly in a safety audit conducted earlier this year, according to data presented to school board members this week. Here's a closer look at what it means and what board members are looking at moving forward.
Why it matters
- The Sioux Falls School District has more than three dozen buildings across town, and with 24,000 kids inside, there are a lot of measures in place to keep everyone safe – many of which are aren't shared publicly, District Security Coordinator Dave Osterquist said.
- In addition to physical security measures, the district has behavioral assessments in place and support for the mental health of students as proactive security measures.
- Osterquist also shared recommendations for improving school security even further – ranging from no-cost solutions like having kids display their IDs to more expensive improvements like a direct line of communication with law enforcement.
"If they're getting that direct notification from us that says, 'We need help, and we need help right now,' that would expedite officers getting to us when we need them," Osterquist said.
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TL;DR
Super Simplified Stories
- 🪿Geese at the airport. When the temperatures cool and the geese migrate, it can cause problems for airplanes. That's why Sioux Falls Animal Control and the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department are teaming up next week to scare the geese away from the airport using pyrotechnics and sound cannons. The goal is to scare the geese away, not hurt them, but if you hear big booms near the airport next Wednesday, that's what that's all about.
- Winter reading challenge. It's time for Siouxland Libraries winter reading challenge, which runs now through Feb. 6. All ages are able to participate, and you can pick up a BINGO card at any library branch or online. The grand prize this year is a Siouxland Libraries blanket. Details here.
- So many home-schooled kids. South Dakota has seen the highest increase in families choosing home-schooling compared to any other state, according to data released this week by South Dakota News Watch. The number of home-schooled students in the state grew from 4,333 to 10,536 over the last decade. See the full story here.
- City Council details Pierre priorities. The Sioux Falls City Council has a short list of priorities for state lawmakers in the upcoming session. With just four items, the council approved the priorities during this week's regular meeting.
- They include support for re-entry programs, especially knowing Sioux Falls will be the home of a new men's prison. Other priorities are airport funding, support for the Dakota Mainstem project to increase water capacity, and a solution to property tax concerns that emphasizes local control. See the full resolution here.
THIS AND THAT
What I'm falling for this week:
ICYMI
More Simplified Stories
Megan Raposa
Megan Raposa
Megan Raposa
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