Happy Wednesday! Megan here.

Weather check: Nice warm fall weather

Totes a winner: Congrats to Eric Saugstad! You won a Sioux Falls Simplified tote bag and a $25 gift card to the local coffee shop of your choice for filling out my reader survey. Thanks to everyone who participated! I had nearly 200 responses!

This week, I've got a look at ongoing conversations among City Councilors about if/how to be part of solving Sioux Falls' childcare crisis. You'll also learn how a rebrand for the Pavilion's theatre program aims to let people know the spotlight is for everyone. Plus, catch some Super Simplified Stories and a roundup of events happening this week.

And now, news:

CITY

As centers risk closing, council says direct support for childcare a ‘hard sell’

Simplified: Without direct funding to support families or providers, the ongoing childcare crisis in Sioux Falls will remain an issue, EmBe CEO Kerri Tietgen told the City Council on Tuesday afternoon. But that’s going to be a “hard sell” for the community, Councilor Curt Soehl noted. 

selective focal photo of crayons in yellow box
Photo by Aaron Burden / Unsplash

Why it matters: 

  • The city has supported research into the childcare crisis and potential solutions for the last two years – first with support for a six-month study from the Sioux Falls Childcare Collaborative, and more recently by hiring local attorney Justin Smith to research the issue for a price tag of $75,000. 
  • A cumulative 120+ pages of data, research and solutions have been presented from those research efforts – many of which were duplicated – but the council has yet to seriously discuss direct funding. Both the childcare collaborative report and Smith's research include discussion of directly assisting parents with childcare costs.
  • For Tietgen, it’s analogous to showing up at the scene of an injury car accident and offering a blanket, a pillow, hot soup – all while refusing to offer actual medical care. 
“(You're saying,) 'We are here to help you in any possible way,'” she said. “'But we won't give you funding … We won’t give you the main thing that’s necessary.'” 

Tell me more

What's the childcare crisis? Why is it so hard to solve? What happens next?

SIMPLIFIED PRESENTS

How Spotlight Theatre Company is giving kids space to shine

This is a paid piece from the Washington Pavilion.

Simplified: A Washington Pavilion program designed to give kids an opportunity to be involved in all aspects of theatre has a new name, and with it a hope to better communicate the message that theatre is for everybody. Here's what you need to know about Spotlight Theatre Company.

Why it matters

  • Spotlight Theatre Company – formerly the Dakota Academy of Performing Arts (DAPA) – has impacted thousands of kids over the last two decades through classes, summer camps and professional-quality performances.
  • But the program has evolved past its prior name, Assistant Director of Performances Bob Wendland said. While DAPA used to include orchestra classes, it has zeroed in on teaching kids all aspects of theatre, from lighting and set design to performing.
  • There was also a perception that the "academy" was a bit exclusionary. In reality, the Pavilion is looking to help all kids interested in theatre find opportunities to participate.
"We really want to break down any of those perceived barriers to anyone in the community to know this is a safe space for young artists to perform and create and participate in theatre," Wendland said. "We really want our program to reflect our community."

Tell me more

TL;DR

Super Simplified Stories

  • Minnehaha County passes 2025 budget. Commissioners on Tuesday passed a $130.7 million budget for next year, including 12 new full-time positions. The Dakota Scout reports it's the lowest tax levy in more than a decade, but because of rising property valuations, you'll probably still see your property tax bill go up.
  • Local school earns Blue Ribbon status. Christ the King Elementary – part of the Bishop O'Gorman Catholic School System – was recognized this week as a Blue Ribbon School, the highest honor a school can receive from the federal government.

EVENTS

Stuff to do: Sept. 25-Oct. 1

  • Catch a true showstopper.* Pianist Jason Lyle Black will perform "100 Hits of Stage and Screen" Friday evening at the Washington Pavilion. The show will also kick off the 2024-25 season for Live on Stage, a nonprofit bringing world-class music at an affordable price. Learn more and get your tickets here.
  • Get freaky. Friday, that is. The Premiere Playhouse is opening their 2024-25 season with a production of Disney's Freaky Friday. The show opens Thursday and runs through Oct. 6, with a special sensory friendly performance – also including an ASL interpreter – on Oct. 3. Snag your tickets here (don't forget to grab one for your mom, too – just in case you end up in her body for some reason).
  • Bingo with plants. Oakridge Nursery is hosting bingo in the greenhouse starting at 6 p.m. Friday. For $10, you get a bingo card and a drink, with additional cards available for $1 each. Space is limited to 100 participants, so be sure to call the greenhouse to reserve your spot. More details here.
  • Feel like a Sioux-per hero. It's the annual Siouxpercon event this weekend at the Sioux Falls Convention Center, with three days of pop-culture, cosplay, games, artists and more. Find a full schedule and tickets here.
  • Eat German food with German beer. The Holiday Inn City Centre is hosting a "Stacks and Steins" event Saturday evening. Have traditional German food, Oktoberfest beer, games like Hammerschlagen, live music and a stein-holding competition. More details here.
  • Find all the fall fun. From apple picking to pumpkin patches, catch our rundown of all things fall here.

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

THIS AND THAT

What I'm falling for this week:

ICYMI

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