Latest news with #Colome
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Colome school district asking for voters to approve tax opt-out
Jun. 20—COLOME, S.D. — Voters in the Colome School District will consider an opt-out measure on Tuesday, June 24 to consider a tax increase to help balance the school's budget. In May, the Colome school board voted to pass an opt-out resolution for $400,000 for five years and to hold a public vote on June 24 for the issue. The measure would allow the school district to opt out of the general fund tax limit for up to $400,000 for five years to help balance the school budget. The election will be at the Colome Fire Hall with polls open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Information published on the school's website indicates that the school board is not seeking the full $400,000 figure for the first year but is asking for that opt-out amount to be available for any potential contingencies over the next five years. Using the school district's example of $275,000 as an opt-out in the first year, ag property taxed at $500,000 would have a tax increase of $426.74, under the current levy figure. An owner-occupied home valued at $150,000, using the school's example would have a tax increase of $286.54. With a $400,000 opt-out, those figures would increase to $620.71 for the ag land and $416.78 for the owner-occupied home. Colome is a town of 330 people located in Tripp County, located 11 miles east of Winner and about 125 miles west of Mitchell. Colome has not had an opt-out in previous years. According to data from the Associated School Boards of South Dakota, nearly 42% of the state's public school districts have an opt-out (62 of 148). The opt-out vote comes a little more than a year following a reorganization vote in the Colome Consolidated School District, which saw the district split off the Wood and Witten areas of the district to the geographically closer school districts of White River and Winner. Both Wood and Witten joined the Colome district in 2010 when the Colome district helped keep elementary schools open in each today but those schools closed in 2021 and 2022. That vote meant the reorganized Colome district is about half of its previous geographic size and lost 33% of its assessed taxable value, which impacts the district's budget. According to South Dakota Department of Education data, the school district reported 138 students for the 2024-25 year, with 39 in high school in grades 9-12 and 34 in grades 6-8. Previously, in the Colome Consolidated alignment, it had 156 students for the 2023-24 school year for grades pre-K to 12th grade, down from 170 students in 2022-23.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Burke School District awarded $225K to build new CTE facility
May 14—BURKE, S.D. — The Burke School District has been awarded a $225,000 Workforce Education Grant to support construction of a new Agriculture Shop and Classroom, part of a broader effort to expand its career and technical education (CTE) offerings. The facility, scheduled for completion by May 2026, will feature an 800-square-foot classroom and a 1,300-square-foot welding shop, providing students greater access to hands-on training in agriculture, welding and other high-demand trades. "This is a transformative moment for our district," said Burke Superintendent Tim Sanderson. "We've been part of a rotating mobile CTE program for over a decade, and while that served us well, we've outgrown it. This new facility will give students access to the space, tools, and environment they need to succeed." The idea for a permanent CTE facility in Burke was first brainstormed more than six years ago, growing from the district's long-standing participation in a four-school consortium. Originally, Burke, Gregory, Colome and South Central (Bonesteel) shared a rotating mobile CTE classroom system. Each school hosted different courses — including welding, house construction, engineering and biomedical sciences — and rotated them annually using a trailer outfitted with specialized equipment. Eventually, Bonesteel exited the partnership, leaving Burke, Gregory and Colome to continue with the shared model. Burke's mobile CTE classroom — essentially a trailer outfitted with welding tools and other equipment — was shared among the districts. With limited space and amenities (students had to walk outside in the winter and there were no bathrooms), the format had clear drawbacks. Course offerings were limited, and class sizes capped at 10 to 12 students, often making it difficult for younger students to gain access. "That setup wasn't ideal," Sanderson said. "With this new space, we'll be able to accommodate more students, bring in new equipment we simply didn't have room for before, and provide a much better learning experience overall." The grant is part of over $600,000 distributed across six South Dakota school districts through two Workforce Education Grants and four Perkins Reserve Grants. These funds are meant to modernize CTE programs and align them with high-demand careers. "These grants are more than investments in equipment," said South Dakota Secretary of Education Joe Graves. "They're investments in the future of our students, our economy, and our communities. By supporting hands-on learning and industry-aligned training, we're preparing South Dakota students to thrive in high-skill, high-wage, and high-demand careers." Burke's facility will focus on agriculture, food, and natural resources (AFNR), an area of growing interest for students and employers alike. In addition to the classroom and shop, the building will also include new spaces for wrestling and band, further centralizing student opportunities. The project officially broke ground on April 28 — before the grant was even awarded. It's funded through $2.75 million in capital outlay certificates, with the grant easing pressure on local taxpayers. The school board's capital outlay levy will cover interest payments. "This grant allows us to deliver a top-notch facility while preserving our capital reserves," Sanderson explained. "It's a win for our students and our community." Community support played a key role in securing the grant. The district submitted numerous letters from larger local companies to demonstrate industry backing for the project. "Seeing that level of support really helped make our case," Sanderson said. "It showed the state that this wasn't just a school project — it was a community effort." Interest in CTE programs has been steadily growing, a trend Sanderson attributes to changing perceptions around trade careers, state initiatives like the Build Dakota scholarship and outreach from industry professionals. "I've seen a real resurgence in kids being interested in the trades," he said. "Students are starting to realize they can attend a tech school for 18 months or two years, have their education paid for, and walk into a high-paying career — or even start their own business." Although there are no immediate plans to expand course offerings beyond the current scope, the increased space and resources will allow for deeper engagement in the existing curriculum. The additional room means more welding stations, better equipment and more students able to enroll in classes that previously had to turn them away. "Our goal is to give our students the tools they need to succeed — whether they're headed to college, a technical institute, or straight into the workforce," Sanderson said. "This new facility is going to help us do just that."
