The Harrisburg Times H om e of the Tig er s
Oc tobe r 20 18
Presorted Standard ECRWSS US Postage Paid Permit #1 Harrisburg, SD 57032 To Current Resident
District Growth Changing Seasons Bring Necessitates New Opportunities Bond Election
ADRIENNE MCKEOWN, PRESIDENT, HARRISBURG ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Vote October 16th With unyielding community growth, overcrowding in four elementary schools, and the inevitable overcapacity at the high school as large classes advance in grades, the need continues to grow for a bond election to be held on Tuesday, October 16th. To ensure the district has space for the immense growth of students by the year 2020, a bond election must be held now to add a 450-student addition to the high school and a new elementary school to take pressure off of Explorer, Endeavor, Freedom and Liberty Elementary schools.
As has been in the past 12 years, there will be no tax increase due to this new bond. New tax valuations in the district will offset the cost of the bond so that tax rates will not need to be increased. There is no doubt the students are here and will be here when the time comes for these buildings to open, and there is no question that we need to make room for more students. If you have any questions about the bond, please call Superintendent Jim Holbeck at 605-743-2567. Continued on Page 5
Free Event Provides Food, Fun, and Foundations for Strong Harrisburg Families District Partners with Community Businesses HARRISBURG, SD, October 20, 2018 – In an effort to support families in the Harrisburg community, the Harrisburg School District will sponsor Family EdCamp on Saturday, October 27th from 8am – 12pm at South Middle School. Family EdCamp will utilize the expertise, passion and talent of Harrisburg staff members along with community partners to offer Kindergarten through 8th grade parents information and skills on a number of topics ranging from supporting learners at home in math and reading, safeguarding your family in an increasingly digital world, and healthy meals for busy families. Parents are encouraged to attend sessions that are relevant to their family needs.
Breakfast and childcare will be provided at no cost to participants, and door prizes will be given away. Aaron Weaver, Liberty Elementary Principal and organizer of the event says, “Many of our families have shared they appreciate the support schools provide to families, but these are often only made available when needs arise. Today's families are busy, and parents are not always aware of the resources available to them - either through the school or within the community. Family EdCamp is a way of making these supports more widely known and accessible to our families, giving them choices in attending sessions and accessing resources important to their needs.”
I don’t know about you, but I am so grateful to live in a part of the world where we can experience all four seasons. And even though we tend to grumble when the South Dakota summer gets a little too humid or the prairie winter gets blustery and cold, I really believe that I would miss the variety, the traditions, the sights, sounds, and smells of each season if I lived in a more static climate. The changing of the seasons brings an opportunity to pause and reflect on what makes each season different than the one that came before or the one that follows.
Development and Chamber board though. As we head into the final quarter of the year, we are priming for the annual Business Trick or Treat. This year’s event will be Friday, Oct. 26, from 2 – 5 p.m. Keep an eye on our website— harrisburgsdchamber.com—for a list of participating businesses as the day draws closer. This is a great way for you and your little goblins to visit our local businesses and meet the people who make these businesses great. (You also get to load up your candy buckets in advance of Halloween!)
As I write this, the stores are bringing out pumpkin-spiced everything, and the trees are starting to show a hint of warmer colors that contrast with the cool crispness in the evening air. The sounds of football fans echo from Tiger Stadium on Friday nights, and it feels as though the routine of the school year has settled in. It’s a quiet time between the chaos of back-to-school and the busyness that is sure to come with the approaching holidays.
We’re also gearing up for the Annual Meeting of the Chamber membership on Tuesday, Dec. 4. This gathering allows us to celebrate the year’s accomplishments with our members and share the vision for the upcoming year. During this meeting, we will name our Citizen of the Year, Small Business of the Year, and Large Business of the Year. Nominations can be made by any individual or organization, so please visit our website to submit a deserving individual or organization today. Nominations are due by Friday, Nov. 16. We look forward to recognizing those who are working to make Harrisburg a better community.
This change of seasons is anything but quiet for your Economic
Finally, there is a changing of seasons within our Chamber
team as well. Given the rapid growth of our community, the board of directors decided to advance the capabilities of our Chamber by hiring dedicated staff support exclusively focused on economic growth and Chamber programming. We greatly value our partnership with the staff at City Hall and will be forever grateful for the tremendous work done by Alysia Simunek to champion the work of the Chamber over the past several years. Alysia has been the driving force behind the scenes, working to ensure our members receive the information they need, coordinating our monthly luncheons, and planning our special events. We thank her for doing this work—in addition to her duties as a city employee—and we look forward to continuing to partner with her and the entire staff at City Hall. We will introduce you to our new membership coordinator/office manager in a future issue. As the seasons change, I hope you find the blessings that come in the new opportunities each season brings. And regardless of the season, know that your Economic Development and Chamber team is working hard to make every season a great season to call Harrisburg home.
5th Grade Band Learners Ready for a Fun Year Ahead! KRISTEN JACOBSEN AND ELIZABETH ENNENGA
Harrisburg Chamber Business
Trick or Treat
Friday, October 26 2 - 5pm See Inside for details
Cooler temperatures are beginning to roll in, the leaves are starting to fall from the trees, and the amazing sounds of the Harrisburg Tigers Marching Band can be heard from the football field! But at the six Harrisburg elementary schools, a different kind of sound can be heard coming from the band rooms. 5th grade band learners are just getting started with their very first year of band. With time, along with a lot of hard work, those squeaks, honks, and screeches will turn into the recognizable melodies of Hot Cross Buns and Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star! Harrisburg
5th
grade
band
teachers, Elizabeth Ennenga and Kristen Jacobsen, are excited to share that over 210 learners across the district are participating in 5th grade band this year. It is always amazing to watch (and hear) beginning band learners progess in just a few short months, from their very first lesson (opening the instrument case) to performing their first concert! 5th grade band learners from ENDEAVOR, EXPLORER, and JOURNEY will present their first concert at 7:00 pm, on Tuesday, December 18, 2018. 5th grade band learners from FREEDOM, HORIZON, and LIBERTY will present their first concert at 7:00 pm, on Thursday, December 20, 2018. Both concerts will be performed at the Harrisburg High School Performing Arts Center. We would love to have you join us!