Regents and New Athletic Facilities

[West-River_Jack]

Re: Regents and New Athletic Facilities

I know this is a favorite topic with Mike Henriksen, he has often asked why Arlington and Lake Preston have not consolidated into one? One reason is that the cardinal logos would have come off the water towers in Arlington, and they don't have any one to climb up there. Just joking but I think both entities are doing good enough to survive for the time being, but you are right about the eastern entities need to look for more cost saving and consolidation might make sense in some cases.

Not sure how this all relates to Regents and athletic facilities, but these things are needed too. As far as our economy being in the slump, it seems to be harder on small towns. I read a little history on Esmond, west and south of Desmet. It was a thriving community until the Great Depression and several businesses failed and never opened their doors again. Now there is one household left and a church, but some historically minded person made markers to denote the former locations of businesses, An interesting place to visit if you have the time.

I love thread drift and love making contributions to it. I have heard that a former governor of our state was critical of the fact that both Volga and Brookings, which are only about six miles apart (or 4 or 7 depending on who you ask), have K-12 school districts. On the other end of the geography spectrum in South Dakota, the Meade (Sturgis, etc.) School District includes about 3100 square miles. That is about twice the size of the State of Rhode Island or 1.25 times the size of the State of Delaware. I am not sure how we would ever determine the optimum sizes of districts and maximum distances of travel for students of various ages. I believe that those are different for first graders than high school seniors. It is also different for colleges and universities.

Both of my kids chose to travel across the entire state and attend universities on the eastern fringe of South Dakota, one at USD and the other at SDSU. These distances are manageable but much more difficult in the first year of college than as juniors or seniors. Other than missing Mom and Dad, among other difficulties of moving 350 miles away, a significant difference for those who travel is the student housing accomodations. It is a lot different for a Sioux Falls resident who may travel home every weekend versus the cross-state student who goes from Labor Day to Thanksgiving living in a room of approximately the same size as the accomodations at the Brookings County Jail. I am glad that the University and the Board of Regents is doing better on that issue. Given time, other geography issues will also evolve.

The availability of a college or university within a reasonable distance from every high school graduate in South Dakota remains an important issue. That reasonable distance will vary depending on both the economic status of the individual student as well as each perspective student's levels of independence and personal responsitbility. If any more of South Dakota's bachelor's level degree granting public colleges and universities should cease to exist, I would hope that they would be replaced by one or more community colleges to serve those who are unable or unwilling to travel hundreds of miles as an eighteen or nineteen year old student. However, the best city for those community colleges might not be the same city where the smaller universities now exist.

[Grizzled_Jack]

Re: Regents and New Athletic Facilities

I've recently retired, but was part of the Missouri state funding scene for 35 years. Missouri has a number of communities along the Iowa border (can you here me Kahoka?) that have fewer people than they did in 1890. Reminds me of my home town Woonsocket. why does that school system still exist, pray tell? Oh I know, so the farmers will still come into town. If someone tried to build something new, I'm sure the cost of paying off the brand new pre-engineered metal building high school would be a back breaker for property taxes.

Missouri had a pretty good property tax system a couple of decades ago. Reassessments occured every two years and the political subdivision had to role back tax rates, adjusting for new growth and inflation. Now the whole system is like swiss cheese with tax abatements and TIF's. Last year the General Assembly became incensed that cities weren't rolling back and made a new law that if they voluntarily rolled back that would create a new maximum tax rate. The result was that many cities that had an uncollected tax under their max rolled back up since it was use it or use it. When I pointed out what would happen to the sponsoring senator in a meeting, his comment was "well I guess that would be an unforeseen consequence". Duh...

They have two schools, Missouri Western and Missouri Southern that were started during the Hearnes administration, both were junior colleges-- and haven't improved measurably. I'd also like to have someone explain to me why there are two four year schools in St. Joe and Maryville, both about thirty miles apart in a part of the state that's bleeding people.

Oh, and each of the regional universities operates it's own agricultural program, so Missouri has about six agricultural schools including two land grant universities. How many years is it since integration?

In the last several years, I've spent my days taunting small government Republicans about this sort of waste and duplication, but they never answer me since the rural parts of the state represent their base.

South Dakota is not alone, at least they converted ONE state school to a prison.

[JackJD]

Re: Regents and New Athletic Facilities

Misery loves company? Well, it's nice to know we're not alone!

[JimmyJack]

Re: Regents and New Athletic Facilities

I love thread drift and love making contributions to it. I have heard that a former governor of our state was critical of the fact that both Volga and Brookings, which are only about six miles apart (or 4 or 7 depending on who you ask), have K-12 school districts.

It's a question of both distance AND viability (not to mention student opportunity). Two schools close together can make sense if they're viable. Two schools far apart can make sense if consolidating would be an undue burden on students and their families.

[MikeHenriksen]

Re: Regents and New Athletic Facilities

Nidaros: toss DeSmet in there as well and make it a Kingsbury County school district.

There is no one for Faith to combine with, and that is the case for several schools west of Hiway 281.

I just wish someone in Pierre would figure out that "government" and "education" are separate entities.

[Nidaros]

Re: Regents and New Athletic Facilities

Nidaros: toss DeSmet in there as well and make it a Kingsbury County school district.

There is no one for Faith to combine with, and that is the case for several schools west of Hiway 281.

I just wish someone in Pierre would figure out that "government" and "education" are separate entities.

I guess if its Kingsbury Co then we have to throw Iroquois in there too, which already goobled up Bancroft and Erwin years ago, and dang they could sneak into Beadle county and grab Cavour while were at it. Then Kingsbury would border Huron on the west and Volga on east. About a 60 mile width in bus travel. I don't have a dog in this fight since I have no children or grand children, but distance starts to erode the gains made on paper, meanwhile Mr. Sanford builds the new arena in Vermillion, and life goes on and we keep posting on this board. I do hope the BOR can help us get moving on these facilities that are badly needed.

If there is one area of consolidation needed it the elimination of township boards and township road maintence. Not a lot happening there but tax dollars are assessed and paid to keep three people with a part time job of running the road maintainer and attending at least one meeting per year. Seems like county government could easily assume these responsiblities.

[Jacks-02]

Re: Regents and New Athletic Facilities

$100+ oil and associated higher transportation costs for busing kids will be a factor in consolidation as well...