RAPID CITY, SD — Rapid City parents should expect potential heat closures in coming weeks as Dr. Jami Jo Thompson, RCAS Superintendent stated during a luncheon yesterday.
The event, held by Elevate Rapid City comes as part of a quarterly series of issue-oriented gatherings held by the organization, and featured Douglas School District superintendent Kevin Case, Rapid City Area Schools superintendent Dr. Thompson, and Dr. Mark Martin, of the Meade County School District, who answered questions on issues looking forward to the upcoming school year.
Among common issues in education, such as the use of cell phones in school environments were more specific and immediate issues such as the danger posed by the issue of private school vouchers. On this, Dr. Martin spoke plainly of his and the other superintendents’ stances, calling for “Public funds for public schools”.
However, among these issues was a more immediate and pressing issue of school facilities here in Rapid City. Though plans to address lacking facilities predate Dr. Thompson’s onboarding as superintendent, Thompson seems intent on creating a plan to deal with the lack of secure entrances at many schools, addressing overcrowding at facilities, as well as a lack of a functional HVAC system at all but one facility currently– however, she emphasizes that the situation this year may see little difference as of yet, saying “unfortunately, the situation will be very similar this year as it has to in the past. You know, we have a process in place where, if the heat hits a certain level, then we have a team of people that gets together and evaluates each building and let the what the temperature and what the humidity is in each building and make a determination of whether it’s safe and effective to continue school in those buildings”.
Moving forward with planning, superintendent Thompson urges all persons aged 18 or older to complete the survey mailed to them by the district in order to allow needs to be assessed. Those wishing to complete the survey who were not mailed information on it may contact Bobbi Schaefbauer at RCAS for information.