Should Colman-Egan should build a new track, field, and football complex?
District residents will soon have the chance to answer that question directly. A survey is set to arrive in mailboxes around Sept. 22, with responses due by Oct. 9.
For decades, the Hawks have made do with a simple football field northwest of the school. Its bare-bones by most standards, but the teams have still managed to hold their own. What the district has never had is a track athletes have been forced to run on the streets or practice at neighboring schools. Even so, Colman-Egan continues to turn out record-breaking track teams.
School Board Chair Kirsten Taggart said its time to get a clear read on public support.
I think the survey should go out because we need to know what peoples thoughts are, she told fellow board members. The board also weighed what to do if approval numbers came in closer to 50 percent than a strong majority.
Right now, the project is still just a concept. Engineers with ISG, who have worked on other district projects, drafted early designs and estimates based on similar complexes in the region. A ballpark cost: somewhere between $4 million and $5 million.
For context, another nearby school recently spent about $900,000 for restrooms and concessions, plus another $600,000 for a grandstand and crows nest. Superintendent Scott Hemmer noted much of the cost on any of it come from labor, not materials.
If Colman-Egan moves forward, funding could come through capital outlay certificates along with potential donations and in-kind contributions.
The sports complex wasnt the only big topic at the most recent meeting.
Land acquisition: The board approved a resolution authorizing Taggart to sign any land acquisition documents, with final approval resting with the full board.
Four-day school week: The idea has surfaced again, with the board holding a preliminary discussion after community inquiries. A growing number of South Dakota districts have moved in that direction.
Library merger: The city and school library could possibly combine. The idea was first floated about five years ago before COVID and has now come back around for consideration.
ORR dissolution: The Oldham-Ramona-Rutland (ORR) School District is in the process of dissolving. The ORR board approved a reorganization plan Aug. 27, 2025, after a petition from residents earlier in the year. The plan which redistributes land and assets to neighboring districts has been sent to the state and will go to a public vote.
Hemmer said if the plan moves forward, Colman-Egan could gain roughly 31 sections of land and about 45 houses, adding about 6.6 percent to the districts current size. Families have already expressed interest in joining.
Nine neighboring districts Brookings, De Smet, Chester, Colman-Egan, Sioux Valley, Lake Preston, Madison, Howard, and Arlington would share ORRs assets, including buses. Hemmer said Colman-Egan has already been allocated a 2018 minibus.
If approved, the ORR district would officially dissolve June 30, 2026.
