As the state prepares for the arrival of the B-21 Bombers to Ellsworth Air Force Base – the local school district predicts needing a new elementary school to support the new students.
More than $2 billion has been invested in infrastructure at Ellsworth Air Force Base in preparation of the new B-21 Bomber.
US Air Force documents show none of that money is directly invested in the local community.
Douglas School Superintendent said he’d like a collaborative funding model. Kevin Case said it’ll cost the district over $65 million to build a new school.
“We’re asking the state of South Dakota to put in $15 million, and depending, we are going to put in, I’m going to say $7 to 10 million and we already put in $6 million. That would help us to get the facility. So, that collaborative funding mechanism that has been used in the past, I guess is what we are looking for,” said Case.
Case said the district is unique by having an active military installation. He said more than 70% of the children expected to move to the area over the next 15 years are estimated to be under eleven years old.
He said this makes a new elementary school a necessity for the already full school district.
