School future gets technical

While Hill City continues to outperform state and national averages in academic achievement, the district is broadening its focus to support students pursuing diverse post-graduation pathways by investing in a new Career and Technical Education (CTE) facility.

As universities graduate students into increasingly saturated fields, the country faces a growing labor crisis driven by a shortage of skilled trades workers.

“The trades are making a big comeback,” said CTE instructor Travis Santistevan. “So it’s important, getting kids excited and knowing that the trades are a great option. They’re not a plan B.”

Trade workers are the backbone of our nation’s infrastructure.

“From a general contractor’s perspective, CTE programs are not just beneficial, they’re essential,” said co-president of Kurtz Construction, Kasey Kurtz. “In an industry facing a critical workforce shortage, CTE bridges the gap between education and real-world demand.”

The proposed CTE facility is part of the district’s 10-year plan, with hopes construction will begin within the next five, assuming no major changes to education funding.

During the district’s 2023-24 strategic planning, Architecture Incorporated was contracted to complete a facility study and develop a master plan.

“It became glaringly obvious that major shop upgrades were needed,” said superintendent Blake Gardner.

The current blueprint of the shop space presents safety concerns with welding and wood working classes sharing a space.

“We have to be on fire watch all the time,” said Santistevan.

Limited space also restricts enrollment in shop classes, leaving interested students waitlisted and preventing the expansion of programs and course offerings.

The school previously attempted to partner with Western Dakota Technical College to offer dual-credit welding courses, but the request was denied due to the dilapidated condition of the existing facility that was constructed in the 1970s.

Renovating and expanding the current space was considered, but it was quickly determined that there was no room to grow. Around the same time, the property across the street from the school, now known as Ranger Square, became available to the district.

“The purchase allowed our board, administrative team and CTE educators to begin vision casting,” said Gardner. “A design was rendered for a CTE building and also an elementary school.”

With new construction comes already high concerns for rising property taxes.

Funding for the project will come from a combination of sources—the Capital Outlay fund, Impact Aid funds and financing.

“We’re trying to be responsible and use savings as responsibly as possible,” said business manager Cassandra Ott, “so we don’t have to come to our taxpayers with an opt-out or anything like that.”

“We take responsibility to our students and our taxpayers very seriously. We’re carefully budgeting every dollar we ask for from the public,” said Ott. “I’ve taken valuations into account so that we are not asking dramatically more from the taxpayers one year after another.”

Board member Todd Grabow added during the district board meeting, “In the time I’ve been here, I don’t think we’ve ever operated in any kind of opt-out,” he said, reporting that 79 of the 148 school districts in the state are operating in some form of opt-out. 

He added that Hill City’s property tax mil levy was 4.9 mils, the second-lowest rate in the state.

“So I think we are doing a really good job by our taxpayers, and hopefully we’re doing a good job by our school,” said Grabow.

In the next two-to-three years, the school board will solicit input and host forums about the project.

“As an educational leader, the CTE center makes me excited,” said Gardner. “For years we have proven that our test scores are through the roof, and we routinely send kids to college prepared to succeed. We have catered to college bound students and been incredibly successful. 

“With the expansion of the CTE center, our goal is to have kids leave Hill City schools with certificates in welding or carpentry and to have work-based learning experiences. We truly can say we have a pathway for every single kid.”