NOVEMBER 9, 2023:
After a few months of discussion and debate, the Stanley County School Board has voted unanimously to keep the district’s rural, K-8 classroom open.
The board made the decision about the Cheyenne School during its regular monthly meeting last night (Nov. 8, 2023).
The Board had been looking into the financial feasibility of keeping the school, located around 50 miles from Fort Pierre, open.
Over the years, attendance at the Cheyenne School has typically ranged from 5 to 15 students. The South Dakota Department of Education website lists 44 rural schools in the state for the 2023-24 school year.
OCTOBER 16, 2023:
The Stanley County School Board is compiling information about the efficiency of operating the Cheyenne School– the district’s rural, K-8 classroom.
Last week (Oct. 11, 2023), the board held its monthly meeting at the Cheyenne School. During the public comment portion, about a dozen residents– all of them opposed– addressed the possibility of closing the school.
Shantel Fanger questioned how much of a fiscal impact closing the school would have on the district’s budget.
Audrey Jones says students who start their education at the Cheyenne School consistently have some of the highest test scores in the district.
Lura Kirkpatrick says rural residents pay a lot of money into taxes that help support the school district.
Chantry Norman has kids that currently attend classes at the Cheyenne School. He says without the rural classroom, his family would have to make some major changes.
Wacey Kirkpatrick also touched on the distance the Cheyenne School is from Fort Pierre, where the rest of the school district’s buildings are located.
Over the years, attendance at the Cheyenne School has typically ranged from 5 to 15 students.
The Stanley County School Board has not yet made a decision regarding the possible closure of the Cheyenne School. The South Dakota Department of Education website lists 44 rural schools in the state, as of Oct. 12, 2023.
A recent, unscientific poll on the KGFX page at www.DRGnews.com showed 130 responses with 98% supporting keeping the school open.
Photo credit Jody Heemstra, DRG Media Group.
Cheyenne School playground equipment.
Oct. 11, 2023.
Photo credit Jody Heemstra, DRG Media Group.
Photo credit Jody Heemstra, DRG Media Group.
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OCTOBER 5, 2023:
The Stanley County School Board is gathering public input about the possibility of closing the district’s rural, K-8 classroom.
Superintendent Dan Baldwin says they’re compiling information about the efficiency of operating the Cheyenne School.
Baldwin shared current and projected enrollment numbers.
Baldwin talks about the timeline, IF a decision was going to made this year.
The Stanley County School Board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday (Oct. 11, 2023) at 6pm CT at the Cheyenne School. The meeting does include time for public comment, but the district policy requires people to give notice “prior to the board meeting” if they would like to speak.
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