Building Project Update – February 19th, 2025
Elk Point-Jefferson School District: Transforming Spaces for the Future
Nearly a year has passed since the Elk Point-Jefferson community gathered in the gymnasium to hear the initial proposal for a transformative building project. During that meeting, the Board of Education, Superintendent Philip Schonebaum, ISG Architects, and DA. Davidson outlined plans for a new kitchen and lunchroom, with an estimated cost of $7.5 million. The project, to be funded through capital outlay certificates, aimed to avoid a public vote by staying within the allowable three-mill levy threshold. The project had some changes as we had issues with our skylight during this time, so fixing the skylight was added to the project, the cafeteria has turned into a multi-purpose space due to the square footage needed and is a new storm shelter for the school district.
The District went through Bid day and has received the bids for the project. In total the district for the phases below will be at approximately 8.3 million. The district did not approve Alternate 1 and 2 at bid day and is looking to develop those plans in the future. This was to remodel the current wrestling room and middle school. The district board of education has taken out capital outlay certificates of 8.5 million to pay for the project. The certificates are not anticipated to impact tax levies in the district.
Phase 1: Modernizing the Heart of the School
The centerpiece of this project is the cafeteria and kitchen remodel, which has been expanded to serve multiple purposes:
Multipurpose Cafeteria: Featuring a mezzanine with a new weight room, storage areas, and even potential batting cages for the softball program. The space will also include bathrooms and serve as a hub for youth practices and after-school programs.
Upgraded Kitchen: Designed to handle two serving lines, reducing lunch times and improving efficiency.
Middle School Bathrooms: New facilities, including a family restroom, will enhance the usability of this area.
Classroom Additions: The former kitchen will be converted into two classrooms and an office, while the old lunchroom area will become a commons space for middle school students.
Parking and Drop-Off Improvements: A new parking lot on the east side of the school will include a drop-off zone for middle and elementary students, improving traffic flow to Douglas Street.
This phase could expand the middle school to 10 classrooms, positioning the district for future growth.
Phase 2: Alternate 3 – Skylight Replacement
To enhance durability and reduce maintenance, the current skylight will be replaced with a new natural-light roof, designed to withstand hailstorms. Funding has already been secured for this improvement.
Looking Ahead
The district is asking the architect for design options for the current middle school. The HVAC infrastructure comes with a big price tag, but the district needs more room as well. The previous update didn’t discuss getting more room for the middle school. This will be addressed in future discussions. The wrestling room and the middle school wing will be the next set of items the district will wish to tackle.
For questions or more details, please contact Superintendent Philip Schonebaum at Philip.Schonebaum@k12.sd.us.