RAPID CITY, S.D. – The Rapid City Area Schools Board of Education has decided to push back the closure of Canyon Lake Elementary School by one year.
It comes after pressure from the Canyon Lake P.T.O. and citizens to give them more time.
The board has already passed a resolution to close Canyon Lake, and Tuesday night, they amended that resolution to keep the school open through the 2023-2024 school year. That means the school would close in 2024.
Board members say this will give the board and community more time to prepare for the closure.
School officials say Canyon Lake isn’t providing an adequate learning environment because of its age. In addition, school officials say students at Canyon Lake lose approximately 40 minutes of class time every week due to the need to travel between the schools’ two main buildings.
RCAS had hoped to raise funds for new and renovated buildings in the district in 2020, but a bond regarding the issue that went to the voters failed.