Sioux Falls school board moves forward with 2 boundary changes for Rosa Parks students

Morgan Matzen, Sioux Falls Argus Leader
·3 min read

The Sioux Falls School District's school board agreed on two final boundary changes Monday night that will affect students who currently attend Rosa Parks Elementary School.

One will move students from Rosa Parks to Susan B. Anthony Elementary School, and another will move students from Rosa Parks to Harvey Dunn Elementary School.

Here’s what will change next school year, starting this fall:

Susan B. Anthony boundary

One of the boundary changes moves Rosa Parks students, who live in the area west of Cleveland Avenue, south of 18th Street, east of I-229 and north of 26th Street, to Susan B. Anthony Elementary School.

A rendering of the boundary changes to come at Rosa Parks Elementary School. The northernmost boundary adjustment was approved in a prior board meeting. The two remaining changes pictured here were approved Monday night.
A rendering of the boundary changes to come at Rosa Parks Elementary School. The northernmost boundary adjustment was approved in a prior board meeting. The two remaining changes pictured here were approved Monday night.

Students in that boundary area will also be moving from Ben Reifel Middle School to Patrick Henry Middle School, and from Washington High School to Lincoln High School, when they grow up.

Current fourth graders and their siblings will be allowed to stay at Rosa Parks through open enrollment if requested, but their parents or legal guardians are responsible for their transportation to the campus.

More: School board finalizes 2 boundary changes: one at Renberg, one at Rosa Parks

Students who will be in sixth, seventh or eighth grade next school year can remain at Ben Reifel through open enrollment if requested, but the same rules apply: Parents and legel gaurdians are responsible for transportation to the school.

Those in high school in that area next year can remain at Washington, if requested through open enrollment, but the family will need to provide their own transportation.

Harvey Dunn boundary

Another boundary change will affect current Rosa Parks students who live in two different areas: east of Highway 11 and south of 33rd Street, and those west of Highway 11 and south of 41st Street. Students living in those areas will be relocated to Harvey Dunn Elementary School.

Current fourth graders and their siblings can stay at Rosa Parks through open enrollment if requested before Feb. 28.

Two-way immersion students in grades K-4 and incoming kindergarten students in two-way immersion will be allowed to stay at Rosa Parks for the program.

More: Renberg Elementary School parents object to future SFSD boundary changes in neighborhood

Older siblings who are currently attending Rosa Parks and are siblings of students currently enrolled in two-way immersion at Rosa Parks can continue to attend Rosa Parks through the open enrollment process.

At Harvey Dunn, five classrooms are ready to accommodate the new influx of students, assistant superintendent Jamie Nold said in his presentation to the board on Monday night.

Board, administrative feedback

Board member Cynthia Mickelson said she appreciated the follow-up with families to identify issues that might have been missed through the process and try to accommodate them.

There were several positive comments about the way the process was handled, board member Marc Murren said, and board president Kate Serenbetz said it was a good process overall.

Board member Nan Baker said she appreciated the attention toward the student-teacher ratio which is conducive for great learning in the classroom.

School staff attended parent meetings to help incoming families feel welcome, Superintendent Jane Stavem said, which was well-appreciated.

The motion to approve the proposed boundary changes passed unanimously.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Sioux Falls school board changes boundaries near Rosa Parks for fall