Mitchell school board to review funding for new high school, go into executive session in special meeting

Erik Kaufman, The Daily Republic, Mitchell, S.D.
·2 min read

Jan. 21—MITCHELL — The Mitchell Board of Education will consider adopting a resolution concerning general obligation certificates for the proposed

Mitchell High School construction project

Monday, Jan. 24 at a special meeting of the board.

The meeting will be held at 5 p.m. at the Mitchell Career & Technical Education Academy commons.

In the meeting agenda notes, Joe Graves, superintendent for the Mitchell School District, said he will request the board approve the resolution in order to lock down the best possible interest rates.

"Raising the necessary funds for the Mitchell High School construction project will mean the use of capital outlay dollars from reserves set aside for that purpose," Graves notes in the agenda. "Federal ESSER II and ESSER III dollars, and the sale of what are commonly known as capital outlay certificates. To secure the funds from that latter source and in order to secure the best rates possible, I am asking that the board approve the attached resolution to begin that process."

Mitchell school officials have been planning for the eventual replacement of the current Mitchell High School building, which was built in 1962, for several years, building up funds to put toward the project. The new structure is expected to cost in the neighborhood of $40 million to $45 million. In addition to capital outlay dollars set aside for the project,

federal COVID-19 relief money, which can be used for improvement projects such as this, will also be put toward the work.

The influx of COVID-19 relief money into the equation allowed the district to move up the high school project, which would have otherwise likely gotten underway in 2025. The district secured Schemmer, headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, as the architect for the project in August.

Also on the agenda for Jan. 24, the board is expected to enter into an executive session for the purpose of discussing the qualifications, competence, performance, character or fitness of any public officer or prospective public officer or employee.

The third item on the agenda is set aside for any action the board may wish to take after it leaves executive session. The board cannot vote while in executive session.

The meeting is open to the public. The Mitchell Republic will live stream the meeting.