Happy Wednesday! Megan here.

Weather check: Bit of a rainy end to summer

This week, you'll get a look at how grant funding and personal connections are helping get kids to school. You'll also learn about a new way to connect with charities in need, catch up on some Super Simplified city news and find a round-up of events in what is – for many of us – the last week of summer before school starts up again.

And now, news:

EDUCATION

How personal connection is helping kids get to school more often

Simplified: A targeted effort to help more kids get to school has seen some early wins in the Sioux Falls School District, according to data presented to the school board Monday.

school bus near green trees under cloudy sky during daytime
Photo by Element5 Digital / Unsplash

Why it matters

  • The district received a three-year, $1.5 million grant last year to address chronic absenteeism – defined as kids who miss 10% of school days or more. Grant funding specifically targeted four subgroups of students: homeless, economically disadvantaged, Hispanic and Native American.
  • Data from the first year showed that the best way to help reduce absenteeism was personal connection – whether it was a phone call, a home visit, a bus pass, a ride to school or getting a kid an alarm clock.
  • The good news is, it appears to be working. The six targeted schools saw improved attendance rates – with one school seeing one of the largest increases in attendance rates in decades.
  • The trickier news, though, is that because of the hands-on nature of the work, it's unlikely something that could be picked up by existing district staff once the grant funding runs out.
"These next two years are going to go very quickly," Superintendent Jane Stavem said. "And in about a year and a half, this board will have decisions related to budget to figure out how we can continue to fill that gap."

Tell me more

SIMPLIFIED PRESENTS

How a virtual bulletin board is helping connect donors with local causes

This is a paid piece from the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation.

Simplified: A new virtual bulletin board is giving people an easy way to connect with local charities. Here's what you need to know about the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation's Giving Depot.

Employees at nonprofit Buddies & Co. in Brandon. (Submitted photo.)

Why it matters

  • The foundation started The Giving Depot last fall with the goal of creating an easy way both for nonprofits to share their needs and for community members to connect with giving opportunities.
  • The Giving Depot is a central connecting point that's already helped dozens of nonprofits share their needs and connect with donors.
  • That's especially helpful to organizations like Buddies & Co., a new nonprofit cafe in Brandon with a mission to employ adults of all abilities. Board Member Krista Halseth said she's grateful for the community support they've received up to this point and excited about the potential with The Giving Depot.
"I think The Giving Depot really is showcasing or spotlighting our nonprofit to a wider network of people wanting to give," Halseth said. "I don't think we could've reached that on our own."

How does it work?

TL;DR

Super Simplified Stories

  • Sioux Falls welcomes 148 new teachers. The Sioux Falls School District hired 148 teachers, and will likely hit closer to 160 by the time school starts next week, Human Resources Director Becky Dorman told school board members on Monday. The district has also hired 131 support staff, and still has 75 open jobs – including 50 open jobs for education assistants.
  • New citywide, on-demand transit goes live. It's like Uber, but public transit. The Sioux Area Metro's newly expanded SAM on Demand is now active citywide – including rides to the airport. The cost is $1.50 per ride, and riders can pay by app or with exact change (no change given). Learn more here about on-demand transit – as well as new fixed routes. P.S. Right now they have a deal where you get your first 10 rides free. (not a sponsored post – just saw the deal on their website.)

More Super Simplified Stories

  • Good news for mobile food. The Sioux Falls Mobile Market this week announced that it received a $50,000 "Business Builder" grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This comes a couple weeks after the market announced service five days a week. Find a full schedule here.
  • A quick update on budget talks. Councilors this week heard about a lot of city building/infrastructure budget needs, including an extensive presentation from the public works department.
    • One point of interest – during discussion of the entertainment tax, Finance Director Shawn Pritchett noted plans to spend $8 million to buy a downtown-adjacent parcel of land in what's being called the "Riverline District."
      • Since that money is coming from the entertainment fund, the land purchase would happen with the intent that it's for a future convention center.
    • That said, Pritchett noted he doesn't see any risk in using that fund, because if the city doesn't build a convention center or another use that falls under the definition of "promotion and marketing of the community," the city can always sell it or find some other way to reimburse the entertainment fund.

EVENTS

Stuff to do: Aug. 14-20

  • Master your influence.* Plan ahead for the fourth annual Sioux Falls Leadership Summit happening Sept. 19 at the Sioux Falls Convention Center featuring local speaker Brian Stroh and two keynote speakers Kyle Vowinkel and Chris Hogan. Attendees will hear from top-tier speakers, get a chance to network, find inspiration and learn in a transformative environment. Get your tickets today.
  • Support theater kids.* The Premiere Playhouse will present its third annual Penguin Project production this weekend with its largest cast yet of disabled artists and peer mentors. They'll be performing "The Wizard of Oz: Youth Edition" Friday through Sunday at the Orpheum Theater. Learn more here, get tickets, and pack the house to show support for these kids.
  • Party on the river. Downtown Sioux Falls is hosting the 11th Annual Riverfest event Saturday evening. The fun kicks off at 4 p.m. with food vendors, live music, the Zoomobile, the 605 Magic Art Bus, SD Aerial & Arts, beer bingo with Woodgrain and dozens of vendors. Get the full lineup here.
  • Party at the Birdcage. Two major festivals are happening back-to-back this weekend at the Canaries stadium, starting with the Tacos and Tequila Festival Saturday featuring performances from Lil Jon, Ginuwine, Chingy and more. Then on Sunday, channel your teen angst with "Not Just a Phase" Fest featuring headliners Simple Plan, as well as 3OH!3, Story of the Year, Secondhand Serenade and more.
  • Party with some butterflies. Hit up the Butterfly House and Aquarium from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for the Books and Butterflies event. Reach Literacy will be on-site with books for kids to take home. Get the full details here.
  • Party like a cowboy. Dust off your boots and head over to the Hello Hi on Thursday night for the third annual "Howdy Hey" event. Details here.

*Denotes a paid event listing. Want to see your event featured here? Email megan@sfsimplified.com.

THIS AND THAT

What I'm falling for this week:

ICYMI

More Simplified Stories

Why a convention center? A closer look at the work behind the Riverline District
A consultant report obtained by Sioux Falls Simplified shows more details on how the city went from discussing a sports stadium to a convention center at the Riverline District.
Sioux Falls SimplifiedMegan Raposa
There’s a new music festival in town. Meet Lallycooler.
A new, multi-genre music festival is coming to town next summer thanks to the work of the Washington Pavilion and Great Bear Ski Valley. Here’s what you need to know about Lallycooler.
Sioux Falls SimplifiedMegan Raposa
Three things we’ve learned so far in city budget talks
The City Council is working all month on figuring out how the city will spend money in 2025. Here are some early takeaways from the budget hearings.
Sioux Falls SimplifiedMegan Raposa

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