Happy Friday! Megan here.
First things first, this issue is brought to you by Live on Stage.
- Live on Stage has been bringing world-class entertainment to Sioux Falls for more than 90 years, and their 2025-26 concert season kicks off Sunday, Sept. 28 at the Washington Pavilion with a performance from The Next Generation Leahy, a Canadian-Celtic family band. To purchase tickets, or for more information, contact the Washington Pavilion box office at
605-367-6000. You can also see the full season lineup here.
Weather check: Chance of rain all weekend
This weekend, you'll hear from parents affected by the announcement this week that Christ the King Elementary is closing at the end of the academic year – that is, unless they have any say in the matter. Plus, the city has officially approved funding to develop an arts and culture strategic plan. Oh, and Siouxland Libraries says it's time to get a library card.
And now, news:
EDUCATION
How folks are fighting to save Christ the King Elementary from closure
Simplified: Bishop O'Gorman Catholic Schools this week announced plans to close Christ the King Elementary at the end of the current school year. But that decision faced hard and fast community pushback – including a petition that's amassed more than 650 signatures as of early Friday morning.
Why it matters
- The Catholic school system told parents Wednesday and released a public statement Thursday announcing the closure. The statement cited the move as necessary for the "long-term strength and growth" of the system, as well as a way to be "faithful stewards of our resources."
- System President Kyle Groos did not respond to multiple requests for further comment Thursday, nor did the school system's spokeswoman.
- The decision to close and consolidate Christ the King Elementary students into the other existing elementary schools in the system also aligns with the "Set Ablaze" long-range strategic plan for the Catholic Diocese, the Rev. Paul Rutten stated in an email to parishioners obtained by Sioux Falls Simplified. This plan, Rutten cites, calls for "bold stewardship" and "growth in new communities."
- For parent Tracy Cota-Teerink, whose children are third-generation Christ the King students, the consolidation announcement is so upsetting she's not sure she wants to continue sending her kids to Bishop O'Gorman schools.
- Teerink is one of dozens of parents and community members petitioning the school system and demanding more information on how the decision to close the school came to be.
"Kyle Groos needs to be contacted," she said. "The bishop needs to be contacted. Father Rutton needs to be contacted. Don't stand down and let them do this to us. I think if we come forward with a united front and solutions to the financial issues, it would be difficult for them to continue their current plan of action."
Tell me more
SIMPLIFIED PRESENTS
Here are the best ways to support local theatre this season
This is a paid piece from The Premiere Playhouse.
Simplified: The Premiere Playhouse has seen a lot of organizational change in recent months: a new building, new performance styles, new (lower) ticket prices for their Mainstage productions and a new vision for the future. Here's how you can support the underlying goal of building community through collaborative theatre education and performance.
Why it matters
- The Premiere Playhouse kicked off its 23rd season last month with a production of "High School Musical, Jr.," and there's still a few weeks to snag a Mainstage season subscription before "Noises Off!" takes the stage in early October.
- In addition to these traditional theatre shows, The Premiere Playhouse this year expanded its mission to increase an emphasis on education. That means more opportunities for artists to develop their skills, but it also means creating more community-focused education.
- It takes community support to make this work happen, and there are several options for folks to engage with the work the Playhouse is doing to support local artists. That can look like everything from donations to artist development memberships to buying tickets to the shows.
- The simplest way to help? Buy a season subscription to see three remaining Mainstage shows for less than $100.
"We believe there is a space for you in here, and that local theatre enriches your life and promotes wellbeing," Executive Artistic Director Oliver Mayes said. "It’s about supporting the development of local artists, but it's also supporting your development and understanding of the world."
Tell me more about The Premiere Playhouse
TL;DR
Super Simplified Stories
- A new era of wellness and self-respect.* Feeling overwhelmed and overloaded? Resilience Chiropractic can help unravel the health overload with a hybrid system that combines chiropractic care, rehab, and progressive strength programming to help you move better, train smarter, and feel strong again. Book a call today to get started on your wellness journey.
- Time to get a library card. September is National Library Card Sign-up. Month, and Siouxland Libraries is looking to double the number of people in town who have a library card over the next three years. The goal is to share the various resources (beyond books) that folks can access. Right now, more than 83,000 residents have their cards. Not yet one of them? You can remedy that here.
*Denotes a paid partnership.
SIMPLIFIED PRESENTS
How collaborative planning is shaping future metro growth
This is a paid piece from the Sioux Metro Growth Alliance.
Simplified: Officials in Tea, Harrisburg and Sioux Falls have worked together in recent months to figure out the boundary lines where each city will intersect someday. Here's what that collaboration means for future growth.
Why it matters
- The metro area adds thousands of new residents each year, and that rapid growth means Sioux Falls and surrounding communities are in continuously planning for things like infrastructure, housing and development.
- That growth also means the boundaries of cities like Tea and Harrisburg have been drawing closer and closer to both Sioux Falls and to one another. That's led for a push over the last year to work together and decide the growth boundaries for each of these communities.
- These growth boundaries make it very clear where each community will be responsible for future utility and development needs, and the process to decide on those boundaries shows the importance of collaboration over competition as the Sioux Metro grows.
"It’s more important than ever to think regionally, not just locally in terms of our land use," said Kevin Smith, assistant director of planning and development services with the City of Sioux Falls.
Tell me more about the growth boundaries
CITY
What an arts and culture strategic plan will mean for the city
Simplified: The City Council this week approved a $110,000 contract with an Arizona-based consultant to get a comprehensive understanding of Sioux Falls' cultural landscape, as well as practical tips for strengthening the local arts scene. Here's what it means for you.
Why it matters
- The City of Sioux Falls has increased its focus on promoting arts and culture over the last couple of years – including hiring a full-time arts coordinator and establishing a seven-member city arts commission.
- And while community arts groups have done similar community studies and strategic planning in the past, this marks the first time the city has been the driving force behind that work, Arts Coordinator Maren Engel said.
- Keen Independent Research will lead the process, and over the next nine months, the goal is to get a sense of the current arts-related businesses and programs in town, find the gaps and make recommendations for how Sioux Falls can strengthen its arts and culture scene.
"It's really important for the arts commission, a new citizen board, to have really data-driven and community-based direction for any decisions that we’re making," Engel said.
Tell me more
THIS AND THAT
What I'm falling for this week:
ICYMI
More Simplified Stories
Megan Raposa
Megan Raposa
Megan Raposa
WANT TO HELP MORE PEOPLE FEEL THIS SMART?
Support Sioux Falls Simplified
Here are a few ways to ensure this smarter, easier local news outlet is here to stay:
- Forward this to a friend. Sharing is caring, and the best gifts are the ones that make your life easier – like this smarter, easier local news.
- Become a member. Consider buying into a smarter Sioux Falls by becoming a member and offering financial support to the no B.S. journalism you've been reading here.
- Give a one-time gift. Not ready to commit to a membership? That's OK! If you want to help in a smaller way, you can give a one-time gift here.
- Advertise with us. Tell the "simplified" story of your business to your target audience. Want more info? Reach out to megan@sfsimplified.com.
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.
Oh, by the way
Your feedback is extremely helpful – hit the reply button and send any news tips, typos, complaints, compliments or cups of coffee my way. ❤️
Special thanks to Live on Stage!
Don't miss their season opener, The Next Generation Leahy, on Sunday, Sept. 28 at the Washington Pavilion. Call the box office at 605-367-6000 to snag your tickets or to get a membership for the full season. See the lineup here.
