Renberg community reacts to elementary closure decision

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) - The Sioux Falls School Board has voted to close Renberg Elementary at the end of this school year.

Renberg is the lowest-enrolled school building in the district and currently serves 87 students. The closure has been considered for more than a year.

In addition to declining enrollment, the district cited limited future residential growth in the area and projected budget savings as reasons for the closure.

Several parents are still processing the information and determining how to move forward.

“Our kindergartner that just started at Renberg, it is going to throw us for a whole new loop and a whole new adjustment period,” said Andria Janis, the mother of a fourth grader and kindergartner at Renberg. “She’s still adjusting now at Renberg.”

One of the aspects that parents love about Renberg is how the classrooms are small so students get more individualized support and teachers are really understanding with IEPs, or individualized education programs.

“When you have kids on IEPs that struggle, and you see the difference of a small school versus a 501 elementary school, it’s heartbreaking,” said Janis. “A lot fall through the cracks, and Renberg was one of the ones able to pick up that and make sure less were. So it’s truly heartbreaking, and I will probably be crying about it for the next year.”

“I could not talk better about Renberg,” said Amber Hodkinson, the parent of a former Renberg student. “The principal and all the teachers, I really do think that’s why my son has done so good in middle school right now, because he went to Renberg.”

One parent said she wishes she had found out about the closure decision through the district instead of the news. She said parents received no email alerting them.

The school board did acknowledge how difficult of a decision this would be and offered kind words, and Renberg said they’re committed to supporting students.

“I think, again, just helping kids navigate through that change and that transition to whatever new school they’re going to is going to be the most important thing,” said Patti Pannell, the principal at Renberg Elementary. “And keeping that communication open with parents so that they know what’s going on as well.”

At the end of this school year, students will be reassigned to either Marcella LeBeau or Laura B. Anderson Elementary School depending on their home address. Teachers and staff will still be employed within the district and will be reassigned as well.