Sioux Falls School District to begin process of identifying facility needs, including Whittier replacement

A task force is being formed to evaluate facility needs of the Sioux Falls School District, including the need to replace Whittier Middle School.

The group will be similar to one formed in 2018 that made a variety of recommendations resulting in the new Jefferson High School, Ben Reifel Middle School, Marcella LeBeau Elementary and improvements to multiple other schools.

One recommendation of that task force was that a new middle school is needed in the Whittier neighborhood area.

“We are now in 2026, and we should begin the process of replacing Whittier on or near its current site,” Assistant Superintendent Dan Conrad said in presenting the plan to the Sioux Falls School Board.

The 2026 task force is planned to be a 30-person group with the following goals:

• Review growth projections for the city and school districts.
• Review and prioritize current facility needs.
• Identify, review and prioritize future facility needs.
• Identify and prioritize projects to be funded by a future bond.
• Present solutions that are aligned with the district’s mission, vision and priorities and are fiscally responsible.

“Public education in Sioux Falls has been a community adventure,” Conrad said. “Our public schools belong to the community, and we want to make sure they’re involved as we evaluate those on a periodic basis.”

The idea is to look five or 10 years into the future about what will be needed for facilities within the school district. The 30-person task force will operate in groups of 10, and each will have a chair.

The goal is to find a diverse group of people, including diversity of experience in the district, Conrad said. That includes families with children of all ages, families who no longer have children in the district or who don’t have children. The hope also is to be representative of the district geographically.

“The task force of 2018 identified that a new Whittier needs to happen … but that doesn’t mean that only Whittier neighborhood individuals can apply,” Conrad said. “We’re looking for a broad spectrum.”

The hope also is to represent a range of careers within the task force.

“There’s value in having a diverse group of people sitting at a table … truly that cross-section of the Sioux Falls School District,” Conrad said.

Members must reside within the boundaries of the Sioux Falls School District.

To find an application, visit here.

The deadline to apply is Feb. 13. A small group will evaluate the applications, and applicants will be notified in early March if they were selected or not.

An independent facilitator will guide the group’s work. Meetings will be held in April and May, and the goal is to wrap up the process by May 20. Findings will be presented to the Sioux Falls School Board in August.

From there, a public engagement process will begin, including a community survey, listening sessions and student input.

“Then, we will probably call the task force back together in December 2026 so we can examine all the feedback we received and see if we wish to alter that report or recommendation to the school board,” Conrad said.

In early 2027, the task force will make its final recommendation, prioritize a list of projects and place a value on them. The goal is to prepare for a bond election in April 2027.

“We want to make sure that all buildings are safe, secure and welcoming, and the solutions will be considered after reviewing all community input,” Conrad said. “The task force is about involving the community, partnering with the community, to help determine the direction of our future facility needs. … We’ve had a history of great success with that.”

The process reflects “the voice of our community,” Superintendent Jamie Nold added. “And our schools belong to our community. We’ve been incredibly blessed in the city of Sioux Falls and the Sioux Falls School District to truly have the support of our community.”