Piedmont residents want new school facilities now

STURGIS, S.D. - Some Piedmont residents, upset that new and updated facilities aren't coming to town anytime soon, aproached Meade School Board members during their annual retreat last week. Mike Smith and Alan Aker want the district to step up its plans for school development in the rapidly developing area. The Meade School Board faced a difficult decision this past spring after a bond issue failed. That issue would have provided the needed funding to build new facilities in Piedmont. Because it failed, however, the district is putting what money it has right now into renovations at Sturgis -- and putting Piedmont on the back-burner. Aker told the board that there is an "urgency" in Piedmont. Meade School Superintendent Jamed Heinert says he hopes to begin new construction in Piedmont within three years -- but not until then. That's because the district is waiting on an expected 5-percent rate growth on capital outlay certificates the school board issued earlier this year to help pay for the project. For some in Piedmont -- three years too long -- and they worry it could push some in Piedmont out of town.