School Board Meeting 11-09-26

The Sioux Falls School District Board meeting on November 9, 2026, included updates on literacy initiatives, student achievement, a new federal tax-credit scholarship organization, and Renberg Elementary. Literacy Allies currently serves three schools, with plans to recruit about 135 additional mentors and expand to Garfield and Hawthorne. The district noted a $12,000 contribution from the Sioux Falls Public Schools Education Foundation to support program costs, including hourly wages. The academic report cited an 87.9% on-time graduation rate and student growth in several measures; no related purchasing decisions were presented.

The board approved the Sioux Falls School District Federal Tax Credit Scholarship Fund as the district’s scholarship-granting organization. The program is expected to allow eligible taxpayers to direct up to $1,700 of federal tax liability to scholarships, with contributions beginning in 2027. The district plans to affiliate with the National Association for Education Foundations, whose software and support were described as costing $10,000 annually; the transcript does not identify a separate board vote on that service. The board also approved discontinuing Renberg Elementary operations after the 2026–27 school year and approved revised attendance boundaries for the 2027–28 school year. Administrators estimated closure-related savings of approximately $500,000 to $700,000 annually, while noting plans to support staff transitions and maintain the building’s roof.