By Kacie Svoboda
On the Aug. 10, the Hill City School Board was forced to make some tough decisions, as Hill City classes were considered too full by principals Chip Franke, Blake Gardner and Todd Satter to accept additional open enrollment students. The meeting began with a plea by Travis and Anna Eckert for the Hill City Schools to accept their kindergarten son Colton. Travis and Anna both attended school in Hill City and wanted their son to have the same opportunity. The family currently lives outside of the school district near Reptile Gardens but they own a house in Keystone.
There were a total of eight cases up for review. However, it was immediately discovered that Case 1 was actually within the school district and therefore had to be added to the roster. Discussion was heated on the other cases with Mike Hanson maintaining that elementary principal Chip Franke’s recommendation, as he was not present, was to deny all elementary open enrollment students. High school principal Todd Satter commented that he’s seen attendance and academic performance issues from high school open enrollees, particularly from the Rapid City area. Satter also pointed out that the school had purchased 13 computers to provide for the returning students. Board member Dennis Krull didn’t think that students should be turned down because there were too few computers.
Middle school principal Blake Gardner also said that he saw issues with older open enrollees but did add that he saw it as a different case if the child was beginning their education in Hill City, as opposed to transferring.
Colton Eckert was considered next as Case 2. He was unanimously accepted due to the families strong ties to the town and school.
Though considered separately, acceptance was denied for Case 3 and 4 with all opposed, except Krull.
Cases 5-8 were considered together as state regulations mandated that if one student in a family is accepted for open enrollment, all other family members must be as well. The four were unanimously denied.
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