Mission

Promoting Educational Excellence

Advocate for quality education for all students, focusing on creating a safe and stimulating learning environment, integrating innovative curricula including STEM and vocational programs, implementing evidence-based evaluation systems for both curricula and educators, and utilizing data-driven decision-making processes to tailor education to student needs.

Parental Empowerment

Advocate for programs empowering parents to engage in their child’s education, offering workshops, promoting parental involvement in schools, facilitating open communication channels between school boards, parents, and communities, and providing advocacy training on educational processes and resources.

Financial Responsibility

Prioritize optimizing budget allocation for schools to maintain educational quality while being fiscally responsible, and pursue grants to enhance programs and resources without increasing local tax burdens.

Minimizing Distractions

Promote focused learning environments by minimizing unnecessary distractions in classrooms through policy advocacy and implementing balanced technology usage policies to enhance learning effectiveness.

What Does the Board of Education Do?

The Rapid City Area Schools Board of Education plays a vital role in ensuring the success of our community’s education system. Key responsibilities include:

Policy Setting: Establishing policies governing curriculum, student conduct, hiring, and budget allocation.

Budget Oversight: Approving and monitoring the school district’s budget to ensure effective use of financial resources.

Leadership Management: Hiring and evaluating the superintendent to oversee district operations and goals.

Advocacy: Representing the interests of students, families, and educators, and ensuring their needs are met.

Community Engagement: Facilitating communication and collaboration between the district and the community through public meetings and outreach efforts.

Accountability: Monitoring academic performance, school operations, and compliance with regulations to uphold standards and meet community needs.

It’s important to note that one board member cannot make unilateral decisions; there must be a majority for changes to be enacted. In essence, the board’s mission is to govern the district in a way that fosters student success, supports a positive learning environment, and addresses the community’s educational needs.