School district gets cool response to Ellsworth aid request

Lawmakers question Douglas School District's reserve funds, precedent as it seeks state money for school

PIERRE – South Dakota’s state government doesn’t traditionally give school districts funding specficially to build new schools, and it appears that not even the might of the U.S. Air Force will change that.

The Douglas School District’s request of $5 million for a new elementary school near Ellsworth Air Force Base had plenty of support from West River lawmakers and others from the area Thursday. They invoked patriotism, stopping just short, it seemed, of bringing in a military band to play for a committee of lawmakers that controls the purse strings of the state.

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“South Dakota needs to do its part to support the military when it supports us,” Sen. Helene Duhamel told the Joint Appropriations Committee.

The request comes as Ellsworth and the surrounding community prepares for an influx of new residents, because the base will be home to the new B-21 Raider. With the new bomber comes its crews, support staff and their families.

Douglas Superintendent Kevin Case said the increase in population is expected to bring 100 more students a year over the next 15 years. Seventy percent will be elementary school age.

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