Oldham-Ramona and Rutland school districts review proposed consolidation plan ahead of public vote

Voters in the Oldham-Ramona and Rutland School Districts received more information on the two districts’ proposed consolidation during a public meeting on Friday night.  

Tom Oster with Dakota Ed Consulting updated those attending at the Dakota Prairie Playhouse in Madison and online via Zoom about the upcoming consolidation vote.  Voters in the two districts will decide May 10th on whether or not to approve the consolidation of the two districts.  Oster outlined what that will mean financially, including a new opt-out for the two districts.  

Oster said the new opt-out associated with the consolidation would last two years until a bond for a new school is passed, or a minimum of five years if the bond vote fails.  

Oster also said that the consolidation plan does not include where a new school may be located.

Oster said that much has changed in the past year since the discussion of consolidation of the two districts began.

The consolidation vote will be held on Tuesday, May 10th.  If it passes, a new school board will be elected in November of this year and the new school district will begin on July 1st of 2023.  Oster said the new school board will be the ones responsible for agreeing on a new school and location, as well as passing a bond resolution.  

More on the consolidation plan, including a video of Friday night’s meeting, can be found on each of the school district’s websites.  

https://oldhamramona.k12.sd.us/

https://www.rutland.k12.sd.us/

Rutland School District voters – vote at Rutland School Gymnasium

Oldham-Ramona School District voters – Lake & Miner County residents vote at St. Williams Parish Hall in Ramona; Kingsbury County residents – vote at the Oldham Gym

April 25, 2022