SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) Sioux Falls newest school board member, Cynthia Mickelson, says she's relieved and tired, but very excited about "getting her hands dirty" for the school district.
She tells KELO.COM News that she sees at least two big challenges ahead for South Dakota's largest school system.
Changing demographics and growing population put pressure on the fairness of school boundaries. For example, Mickelson says that Roosevelt High School gets about 47 percent of incoming freshman and "that's not good." She says the student distribution in the elementary and middle schools is unfair.
The other big challenge she says is the increasing cost of students from low income families. She would prefer to see charitable dollars used instead of tax dollars. Mickelson's idea would be a very structured plan involving just not big donations, but volunteer time and small donations for targeted needs such as arts supplies at a specific school.