Board approves million-dollar purchase of one-acre parcel

Hill City School Board (HCSB)  members voted to purchase a 1.02-acre lot from Isaac Almanza for $1 million. The 4-1 vote came at the Aug. 12 HCSB meeting.

With the possibility of new facilities or increasing parking or merely protecting the future interests of the district, the board voted to purchase the lot at 403 Main St., the lot previously slated to be Ranger Square. The board approved the $1 million purchase price for the 1.02-acre lot, citing comparables  of Main St. sales showing “that the purchase price of approximately $22.50 per square foot is within the fair market value range.”

Superintendent Blake Gardner called the opportunity  “perfect timing” since the district is currently undergoing a facility use plan study.

Neither Gardner nor the board discussed any concrete plans for the land, but tossed around ideas including a future career and technical education shop building, teacher housing, event parking or even a new elementary school. 

Gardner called the land “extremely valuable” to the  school district due to its proximity and the landlocked nature of the current school. He added even using the land for parking would help the district be “better neighbors” by funneling parking spaces from Main Street. The land is currently zoned C3, which Gardner called a “wild card” allowing the district to control what the land is used for. Member Todd Grabow said the sale is protecting the district since anything could go in there if it was sold elsewhere.

Gardner  said  the district is in a financial position to afford the purchase price.

Only member Rob Timm voted against the purchase saying he was “kind of uncomfortable with the cost” and his feeling that the funds could be used a  different way.

Pennington County records indicate the four lots purchased were assessed at $311,800 in 2024 and were last sold for $300,000 in 2020.

The high school roof is completely done, while fence and turf projects are set to be completed soon. 

“Everything is  looking good” for the start of school, says Hill City School District maintenance director  TJ Schmidt. Board members thanked Schmidt for the great job his department is doing, while Grabow reminded his peers to keep the facility boiler on its radar. 

Middle school Principal Todd  Satter echoed the sentiment of the board and said the work on the middle school stairs looks fantastic and says that they are now safer.

Timm is scheduled to attend an impact aid conference in mid-September and asked that the topic be an agenda item at the next HCSB meeting. He explained that the district has been receiving the same  $441,000 since the “beginning of time.”

Preliminary enrollment numbers show growth in the district. Elementary principal Samantha Weaver estimates 20 new students in the elementary school,  but that projection is not set in stone.

Satter anticipates a net gain of six to 10 new students and will provide better numbers at the next meeting, saying enrollment will “definitely be up.”

Satter sent out a letter to parents outlining the district cell phone policy. 

He hopes it is a “line in the sand moment for a family that you probably need to find another school” if  it’s too big of a deal for a student to comply. Satter also sent a letter to staff so that they had time to prepare for the change.

Satter said he has received positive feedback overall. He said overall it will be a positive and that cell phones have become a distraction.

Satter says, “The kids are gonna be in a much better place,” and cited increasing test scores in schools that have no cell phone policy in place.

“It’s only going to help our kids academically,” he said.

Gardner said kids can go through withdrawal for the first few weeks according to things he has read. 

“By week three, across the board they start to see better attention and teacher satisfaction but you have to get through that initial phase,” Gardner said. He warned the board there may be “pockets of resistance” to start.

Gardner  worked with Pennington County Sheriff’s Office deputy Jim Waldrop, at Waldrop’s request, to create a letter about pick up and drop off.

Gardner called the purpose to “set clear expectations at the beginning of the year.”

Gardner said nothing has changed and outlined  the pick-up and drop-off areas and additional rules including  avoiding the bus lane, the staff parking lot, McGregor Street  and U-turns.

The district is looking for clock keepers and scorekeepers for fall sports. Interested parties can contact district athletic director Wade Ginsbach.

Gardner updated the board on the district  strategic plan.

He said all handbook changes were transparent and that teachers are working on vertical alignment of curriculum,  grades six through 12. Gardner said the district is fully staffed, adding, “our kids are gonna be great beneficiaries” of this.

Ninety parents and 60 community members responded and provided input to the district strategic plan.

The HCSB meets again Sept. 9 at 6 p.m.