KOTA Territory NewsDakota Middle School renovations on schedule

Dakota Middle School renovations on schedule

A Rapid City renovation project, to keep a historical building operational, is on schedule.

The $10 million Dakota Middle School Renovation is a joint project between Rapid City, the school district and community arts.

Phase one, which includes restoration of the theater, is on schedule to be complete by May or June.

Phase two will start this summer and will repurpose the rest of the school to house the Rapid City High School Academy Program, which right now is scattered across the city.

"When the project is complete, it will add to that enhancement of the downtown community as well as offering our students a very suitable facility where all of these programs that have been scattered around the district can be brought together," said Mike Kenton, Director of Support Services.

This summer, the facility will revert back to its original name of Rapid City High School.

Most of the Dakota students will be reassigned to the new East Middle School this fall.

Phase two of the project is on pace to be complete by the fall of 2013.