Schools out of space: Sioux Falls, surrounding districts update expansion plans

Large new schools Ben Reifel Middle School and Jefferson High School opened at the start of the school year, but the bond passed by voters to fund them also included several smaller projects that are in various stages of completion.

Throughout the Sioux Falls School District, work is happening inside and out to upgrade and expand buildings.

“We’ve identified all these major projects (through a) committee that looked at our facilities,” said Jeff Kreiter, operational services director.

Here’s a look at what’s underway:

All City Elementary

The school district has added two music rooms and redid the playground.

It also purchased a nearby house and will be tearing that down this summer and making it into a grassy area for the playground.

Cleveland Elementary

A two-year project is underway that includes adding a gymnasium and turning the existing gym into a multipurpose room, which also will function as a lunchroom.

The former multipurpose room will turn into two music classrooms.

John F. Kennedy Elementary

This is a similar project to Cleveland Elementary, adding a gymnasium and turning the former one into a multipurpose room.

The former multipurpose room will become a music area, plus there are ceiling and lighting improvements coming throughout the school.

“They can have gym throughout the day, and they don’t have to tear down and clean up,” Kreiter said. “They’re crammed in, and that really became evident when COVID hit and we were trying to separate them.”

Hayward Elementary

And good news on the city’s planned improvements at Hayward Park: The bids came back well enough that the extras on the project could be awarded. So that means the new dog park will include turf and extra areas for shading.

The project includes a spray park, enhanced playground and walking loop. The hope is to be done by late summer or early fall.

Also, an addition at the school next summer will include new locker areas and enhanced multipurpose space.

High school athletic improvements

Roosevelt and Washington high schools will get fitness center additions plus extra storage and training rooms in their athletic areas.

“We’re going to be refinishing the gym floors, putting new bleachers in with railings and improved safety,” Kreiter said.

Roosevelt, Washington and Lincoln high schools also will be get turf and lighting in their stadiums similar to what’s at Jefferson High School.

“The goal is to have at least one or two done this year and complete it the following year,” Kreiter said.

Brandon Valley School District

Brandon Valley High School is moving forward with a nearly $9 million expansion. It includes general classrooms, ground-floor special education space and additional science labs.

The 34,000-square-foot addition is meant to maximize available land and minimize the impact to parking, according to Superintendent Jarod Larson.

Work is expected to start in May and last until June 2023.

Harrisburg School District

Harrisburg’s new East Middle School has been under construction all winter, with exterior walls scheduled to start going up in May.

Renderings by Architecture Incorporated

It’s located near 69th Street and Southeastern Avenue. Journey and Horizon elementary schools will feed into it. Adventure, Explorer and Endeavor will feed into North Middle School, and Freedom and Liberty will feed into South Middle School.

“It’s just crazy what’s happening in Harrisburg proper now,” Superintendent Tim Graf said. “We just finished (boundary changes), so North (Middle School) had a little relief in preparation for this. We’re trying to limit the number of moves kids make with these boundaries.”

Renderings by Architecture Incorporated

Footings and foundations will be starting on the Freshman Academy near 85th Street and Cliff Avenue.

The first phase is a two-story building with food service, a commons, auxiliary gym, administrative offices, library and academic classrooms plus site work for the expansion. It’s ultimately designed to become a second high school once graduating classes hit 550 to 600 students.

“I think it’s five-plus years, I’d say five to 10, but I don’t think there’s any way we’ll last 10,” Graf said.

Outdoor areas include sub-varsity grass athletic fields and an asphalt track for gym classes. With phase two, the plan is both high schools will use the current stadium for varsity competitions.

Both the middle school and academy are scheduled to open in the fall of 2023.