Happy Friday! Megan here.
Weather check: Hot, maybe rainy
Did you know that Sioux Falls has its own award show for theater/stage performers? I had the privilege to present an award at the Sioux Falls Stage Awards last night, and it was one of the most energetic and supportive crowds I've ever seen.
- While I was there, a thought occurred to me: It's so, so cool that not only do we live in a city with a great local arts scene, but also there's enough amazing art and talent that we can literally have our own version of the Tonys. Anyway, go learn more about all that here.
This weekend, you'll get an update on the Delbridge Museum taxidermy collection, as well as how the Sioux Falls School District's Spanish Immersion program has grown over the last several years. You'll also see a behind-the-scenes look at the Sioux Falls Area Humane Society. Plus, stay tuned next week for a closer look at the namesake of the new skate park that opened Thursday.
And now, news:
CITY
Most taxidermy at the zoo is in good condition – so what happens next?
Simplified: Most of the taxidermy animals at the zoo are in good condition, and nearly all are repairable, according to a consultant report presented to a work group Friday morning. Now, it's up to the city and the zoo to decide what it wants to do next.
Why it matters
- The city last fall closed the Delbridge Museum at the Great Plains Zoo after reports showed arsenic present in 70% of the mounts.
- A new report from A.M. Art Conservation now shows arsenic is not a valid reason to dispose of the taxidermy. The majority of the mounts are in good condition, and the consultants recommended to restore them and display them in enclosed glass casing.
- However, the required restoration, new habitats, glass casing and a building to display it all on the zoo campus would cost an estimated $7.2 million. Restoration alone is estimated to cost more than $850,oo0.
- Now, the city, zoo and work group must decide if it wants to pay that money or donate the collection to another nonprofit either in or out of state. Per state law, selling the collection is not an option.
"The collection isn't going to be destroyed," zoo CEO Becky Dewitz said Friday.
Tell me more about the report findings
SIMPLIFIED PRESENTS
POV: You're an animal at the humane society
This is a paid piece from the Sioux Falls Area Humane Society.
Simplified: The Sioux Falls Area Humane Society gave us a behind-the-scenes look at the paths pets take from the time they arrive until the time they're adopted. Here's a look at a typical journey.
Why it matters
- The humane society takes in thousands of animals each year – more than 8,200 last year alone.
- In addition, the humane society contracts with five counties and 33 cities, including Sioux Falls, to assist with or serve as their animal control.
- From the moment an animal arrives, the goal of the shelter is to figure out its best path forward – from attending to medical needs to ensuring adoptive homes are the right fit.
"We're always looking for what is good for the animals," Community Outreach Director Dana Peterson-Konzem said.
Learn more here
TL;DR
Super Simplified Stories
- Money for trees. The city recently announced a new "Communi-Tree" program, funded by a $3 million grant from the USDA Forest Service. The goal is to plant 2,500 new trees on right-of-ways at no cost to property owners – primarily focusing on disadvantaged areas. Learn more about the federal program here.
EDUCATION
How Sioux Falls' Spanish Immersion program has grown
Simplified: The Sioux Falls School District first started talking about adding a Spanish immersion program nearly two decades ago. Today, there are more than 1,700 kids learning in both Spanish and English at school.
Why it matters
- Immersion students are taught primarily in Spanish, with the goal of becoming both bilingual and bi-literate over the course of their schooling. One-way immersion students spend 90% of their day speaking Spanish, and two-way immersion students spend half the day speaking Spanish and half the day speaking English.
- Last year alone, 168 received Global Seals of Biliteracy, and 69 students received a brand new South Dakota Seal of Biliteracy – both of which are tests to objectively gauge a student's fluency.
- Earlier this month, school board members discussed plans to expand the Spanish Immersion program at the middle school level as 100 two-way immersion students age out of elementary school. But Assistant Superintendent Kirk Zeeck said the district is close to maxing out its capacity for new students in the program as space at Sonia Sotomayor Elementary fills.
"One of the things we have to consider is the ability to hire personnel and just across the U.S.," Zeeck said. "Employment arena has made it difficult."
Tell me more about the history of the program
THIS AND THAT
What I'm falling for this weekend:
ICYMI
More Simplified Stories
Megan Raposa
Megan Raposa
Megan Raposa
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