Great Plains Lutheran High School's new facilities foster student learning in sports and fine arts

After six years in the making, the Great Plains Lutheran High School is now using its new chapel and auditorium, music room, kitchen and dining room and auxiliary gym. The new areas also include additional office and learning spaces as faculty juggle schedules with a growing student body.

"When we did our last evaluation, there were current needs based on existing enrollment and programs," said Rev. David Maertz, school president. "We decided to move forward with the building project to serve the students at our current enrollment level and to serve more students as we might grow in the future."

Student enrollment is commonly between 130-140 students at Great Plains, with roughly half of their students coming from outside the community and residing at the school's dormitory.

Although Great Plains is a Lutheran school, Maertz noted that the student body is diverse in faith and hometowns. Most students are from western South Dakota, but there are also learners from Minnesota and further away states like Florida and Alaska. The school's dormitory is also an attractive option for international high school students from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Ethiopia looking to obtain some learning opportunities within the United States.

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"We are seeing a gradual increase in enrollment from students from varying religious backgrounds," said Maertz. "You don't have to be a Lutheran to attend school here. Great Plains provides a faith-based, Christian education, and we have families from various faith backgrounds."

Providing space for creativity and sport

The students at Great Plains have a high participation rate in extracurricular activities, but there was little space for students to partake in these activities. An ever-increasing interest in the fine arts and sports spurred the facility expansion into fruition.

"This expansion was about our ability to provide the appropriate facilities designed for these activities," said Maertz. "It gives us more flexibility in scheduling. Now we have a place dedicated to theater, faith and concerts, leaving the gym open for sports."

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New space was a $6.7 million project

Although the school has several new places for staff and students to enjoy on campus, the original expansion plans included four new classrooms on the north end of the building. But space for activities was needed more than the classroom, and funding became limited for this fourth and final addition.

"There weren't any grants that came into play. The funding was raised through a capital campaign and mainly by individuals who have supported our ministry over the years," said Maertz.

The construction of the new music room, learning spaces, kitchen and cafeteria, auditorium and auxiliary gym, plus all the fixtures, equipment and furnishing, totaled roughly $6.7 million. Fundraising efforts garnered $4.8 million of that cost. The school finances the remaining $1.9 million.

Inflation and material shortages did not hinder the price point much as the contracting for the project was completed before the COVID-19 pandemic. However, changing economic times may create some challenges in building additional classrooms in the future. However, the administration wants to see that become a reality in the next five years.

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"We want to catch our breath and let the dust settle, so to speak and somewhat literally," said Maertz. "Let's see where we are and fully get into using these new facilities we have just built."

The new auditorium is already drawing a crowd with students putting on concerts and plays for their friends, family and community members. Maertz is hopeful that the new spaces for activities and performances will increase awareness of what Great Plains Lutheran High School offers.

"What will be interesting now that we have these things in place and more community visibility and interaction is how that might impact enrollment," he said.

For the Christmas season, students will perform a choir and band concert on Dec. 4 at 3 p.m. The event is free and is open to the public.

This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: Great Plains Lutheran High School's new facilities inspire learning