We are proud to celebrate two incredible members of our Rapid City Area Schools family who go above and beyond for our students every single day.

🍎 Teacher of the Year: Katey Swank
Katey’s dedication, passion for learning, and unwavering commitment to her students make a lasting impact in her classroom and beyond. She truly embodies the heart of education and the powerful impact a great teacher can have on a child's life.

🚌 Bus Driver of the Year: John Hammond
John does more than drive a bus—he builds meaningful relationships, creates a safe and welcoming environment, and begins and ends each school day with care and consistency for our students.

Please join us in congratulating Katey and John and thanking them for the incredible work they do for our district. We are deeply grateful for all of our teachers and support staff who help make RCAS a place where students thrive.

A huge thank you to the Rapid City Public School Foundation for their support in recognizing and celebrating the outstanding individuals who serve our students each day.

Rapid City Area Schools is excited to share several upcoming facilities projects designed to enhance learning environments, improve safety, and support student success across the district.

Rapid Valley Elementary
Rapid Valley Elementary is getting renovations and additions, including new classrooms, a new office area, air conditioning, and additional improvements. Groundbreaking is expected this spring, with construction anticipated to take approximately 18 months.

Grandview Elementary
HVAC upgrades — including the addition of air conditioning — will begin this spring and continue into the next school year, creating a more comfortable learning environment for students and staff.

Stevens High School
Exciting upgrades are coming to Stevens High School, including an updated orchestra room and storage space, a dedicated fine arts entrance, art room renovations, enhancements to the freshman commons area, flooring replacement in the freshman lunchroom, and mechanical HVAC upgrades. Construction is beginning this spring and is scheduled for completion before the start of the next school year.

Security Improvements
Five schools will receive secure entrances as part of construction projects beginning this spring: General Beadle, Meadowbrook, Pinedale, North Middle School, and South Canyon. These improvements reflect our continued commitment to student and staff safety.

Knollwood Elementary
Work will begin soon to redesign the front of the building, including removing the existing glass facade. These updates will enhance both safety and temperature control throughout the school.

These projects represent our ongoing investment in safe, modern, and supportive learning spaces for all RCAS students and staff. We are excited to share progress updates as construction gets underway.

During a recent incident at Black Hawk, staff member Crystal Reitzel demonstrated exceptional awareness and professionalism when a student experienced a medical emergency. After noticing the student was choking, Crystal acted immediately, performing the Heimlich maneuver,  quickly resolving the situation and ensuring the student’s safety.

Her calm demeanor and decisive response reflect the deep commitment our staff members show each day—not only to students’ academic success, but to their health and well-being. We are incredibly proud of Crystal and grateful for the care, vigilance, and dedication she brings to our school community.

South Park Elementary Student Council members had a memorable opportunity to visit City Hall, where Mayor Jason Salamun welcomed them for a special meeting in the Council Chambers.

During the visit, students learned about the duties and purpose of local government, how city leaders represent citizens, the important role community members play in governance, and the separation of powers within different branches of government. The mayor also took time to answer thoughtful questions from the students and hear about their top priorities — including hopes for new and improved playgrounds in the community.

To conclude the visit, Mayor Salamun presented each student with a city pin and provided a brief tour of the mayor’s office, making the experience both educational and inspiring for our young leaders.

The Personal Transfer Window for the 2026–2027 school year will open on March 1 at 7:30 a.m. Families who wish to request a transfer for their student to attend a school outside of their designated attendance area may submit an application beginning at that time.

Personal transfer requests are processed on a first-come, first-served basis and are subject to space availability at the requested school.

To apply, visit rcas.org and click on the transfer link located on the homepage banner. Families may also refer to the email sent with detailed instructions and grade-level application links.

For questions, please contact Educational Services.

March 1, 2026: Kindergarten Sign Up and Personal Transfer Requests Open

March 6, 2026: Early Release 

March 16, 2026: No School (Professional Development Day)

March 18, 2026: Title VI Parent Advisory Committee Meeting

March 30-April 6, 2026: Spring Break

Link to the RCAS Calendar

Get to know the people behind the programs that support our students every day. The Public School Podcast features real conversations with the staff, partners, and community members who make public education work.

🎧 Listen now: https://shows.acast.com/the-public-school-podc 

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Questions? Email the Communications Office at bobbi.schaefbauer@k12.sd.us