School Board considering drastic cuts to 2026-27 general fund budget due to projected declining enrollment

S.D. Governor Rhoden’s plan to ‘flat fund’ schools next year also a factor
  • The above graphic was provided to Hot Springs School Board members at a Jan. 8 special meeting to demonstrate how student enrollment has been steadily decreasing since 2000 when there were 909 students in the district. This year, Hot Springs had only 660 students enrolled in grades K-12.
    The above graphic was provided to Hot Springs School Board members at a Jan. 8 special meeting to demonstrate how student enrollment has been steadily decreasing since 2000 when there were 909 students in the district. This year, Hot Springs had only 660 students enrolled in grades K-12.

    HOT SPRINGS – Concerns over a steadily declining student enrollment has put the Hot Springs School Board in a position where they must choose between two painful options – either slowly pull off the ‘band-aid’ and spread out some needed budget cuts over two years, or rip the ‘band-aid’ off all at once and make a deep cut into the budget now.

    This was the situation described to the board and a handf…