RCAS: “See for yourself”
District offers school tours ahead of bond vote
Early voting for the Rapid City Area School’s proposed $190 million bond issue is underway.
To help voters make an informed decision, the district is offering to take the community on a tour of their aging facilities.
Most of Rapid City’s schools were built during a post-World War II boom between 1949 and 1963.
Superintendent Dr. Lori Simon says the local business community tells her a well-maintained school system is a big factor in bringing new businesses into the local economy.
“One of the first things that I have heard,” said Simon,” is when teams and their spouses are coming in to consider rapid city for their business or their home, that oftentimes they’ll drive by the facilities and our schools and, just on the condition alone, they question whether or not our community does value education.”
Kumar Veluswamy is the district’s facilities manager, charged with keeping the schools open and operating. He says that task will be more challenging if the bond issue is not passed.
“There comes to a point where any other catastrophic measures happen… like Robbinsdale — if the building moves even more or our structural engineers say, ‘Nope. We cannot have school anymore,’ where do we take those kids to?” he asked rhetorically. “We’ve got to spend some money and make some things happen. If we have to put up an annex, that costs money. So we will be in a very tough situation to make the proper projects and maintain these school buildings.”
According to RCAS spokesperson Katy Urban, it’s been 46 years since Rapid City last approved a school bond issue, which paid to build Rapid City Central High School.
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Robbinsdale-ES
Robbinsdale Elementary School sits on a reclaimed landfill and has significant settlement issues.
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Robbinsdale-Stairs
RCAS was forced to close this outside staircase at Robbinsdale Elementary School when the hillside shifted, leaving the stairs unsupported.
RCAS was forced to close this outside staircase at Robbinsdale Elementary School when the hillside shifted, leaving the stairs unsupported.
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Robbinsdale-Security
RCAS Facilities Manager Kumar Veluswamy explains the challenge of providing security at an old-design school such as Robbinsdale Elementary.
RCAS Facilities Manager Kumar Veluswamy explains the challenge of providing security at an old-design school such as Robbinsdale Elementary.
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Robbinsdale-band-room
The walled-off gymnasium stage at Robbinsdale Elementary now serves as the school's band room.
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Robbinsdale-Speech-Therapy
The speech therapy room at Robbinsdale is in a converted storeroom.
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Robbinsdale-5-Teachers-1-Room
Five teachers share a single room for one-on-one instruction at Robbinsdale Elementary School. The room also serves as storage for reading material.
Five teachers share a single room for one-on-one instruction at Robbinsdale Elementary School. The room also serves as storage for reading material.
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Robbinsdale-coats
Coats and backpacks are hung in the hallways at older schools like Robbinsdale Elementary because classrooms are too small.
Coats and backpacks are hung in the hallways at older schools like Robbinsdale Elementary because classrooms are too small.
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Robbinsdale-Temp-Coat-Rack
Even with hallway coat and backpack storage, Robbinsdale Elementary needs a temporary coat rack.
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Robbinsdale-Wall-crack
The soil of the former landfill on which Robbinsdale Elementary School is built is constantly shifting, causing the building to settle and cracking the structure.
The soil of the former landfill on which Robbinsdale Elementary School is built is constantly shifting, causing the building to settle and cracking the structure.
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Robbinsdale-settlement-cracks
The soil of the former landfill on which Robbinsdale Elementary School is built is constantly shifting, causing the building to settle and cracking the structure.
The soil of the former landfill on which Robbinsdale Elementary School is built is constantly shifting, causing the building to settle and cracking the structure.
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Robbinsdale-bathroom-cracks
The soil of the former landfill on which Robbinsdale Elementary School is built is constantly shifting, causing the building to settle and cracking the structure.
The soil of the former landfill on which Robbinsdale Elementary School is built is constantly shifting, causing the building to settle and cracking the structure.
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South-Middle-School-ext
An independent review of RCAS school buildings determined that South Middle School is in the worst physical condition of any school in the system.
An independent review of RCAS school buildings determined that South Middle School is in the worst physical condition of any school in the system.
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South-Middle-Courtyard
The courtyard at South Middle School has settled several inches. It was originally where the black line can be seen in this photo.
The courtyard at South Middle School has settled several inches. It was originally where the black line can be seen in this photo.
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South-Middle-Courtyard-closeup
The courtyard pavement at South Middle School used to be flush with the white upright. RCAS Facilities Manager Kumar Veluswamy says that because the frozen winter ground has expanded, the courtyard level is actually several inches higher in this photo than it will be when the ground thaws.
The courtyard pavement at South Middle School used to be flush with the white upright. RCAS Facilities Manager Kumar Veluswamy says that because the frozen winter ground has expanded, the courtyard level is actually several inches higher in this photo than it will be when the ground thaws.
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Canyon-Lake-ext
Canyon Lake Elementary is among the oldest buildings in the district. Its campus consists of two buildings that are each approximately 70 years old, and four annex classroom buildings.
Canyon Lake Elementary is among the oldest buildings in the district. Its campus consists of two buildings that are each approximately 70 years old, and four annex classroom buildings.
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Canyon-Lake-narrow-hall
RCAS Facilities Manager Kumar Veluswamy demonstrates how narrow the hallways in old-design schools are.
RCAS Facilities Manager Kumar Veluswamy demonstrates how narrow the hallways in old-design schools are.
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Canyon-Lake-hallway-clutter
The hallways at Canyon Lake Elementary are used to store supplies, coats, and backpacks.
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Canyon-Lake-Stage
The gymnasium stage at Canyon Lake Elementary has been permanently walled off and converted into a server and storage room.
The gymnasium stage at Canyon Lake Elementary has been permanently walled off and converted into a server and storage room.
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Canyon-Lake-Hallway-storage
At Canyon Lake Elementary, a hallway leading to an exit is used to store reading materials. RCAS works closely with the Rapid City Fire Department to ensure that egress at its older buildings meets fire code.
At Canyon Lake Elementary, a hallway leading to an exit is used to store reading materials. RCAS works closely with the Rapid City Fire Department to ensure that egress at its older buildings meets fire code.