Gov. Kristi Noem dedicates funds to new School for the Blind and Visually Impaired

Lisa Kaczke
Argus Leader
An artist rendering for South Dakota's new School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, expected to open in fall 2019.

PIERRE — Gov. Kristi Noem announced on Wednesday that she's dedicating funds to help construct a new South Dakota School for the Blind and Visually Impaired in Aberdeen. 

Noem's $2.5 million Future Fund grant for the school will add to a $2.5 million grant awarded by former Gov. Dennis Daugaard last year and $5 million from the city of Aberdeen.

More:Gov. Daugaard awards $2.5 million for new School of the Blind and Visually Impaired

The new building, expected to open on Northern State University's campus in December, will replace a 60-year-old school building with a building containing up-to-date technology. The new school will also include a partnership with the university to train future teachers to work with students with visual impairments, Supt. Marje Kaiser said during a Wednesday press conference at the Capitol. 

"The field of visual impaired education is a shortage nationwide," Kaiser said. "We're hoping that we can help fill that shortage by expanding this program."

Northern President Timothy Downs said that the university and school have the same goal of preparing teachers to serve all students.

"Students with visual impairments have unique needs, and there are unique learning strategies to help those students get ready for life and be prepared to be successful and contribute to society," Downs said.

The new $14.2 million school will be nearly 50,000 square feet and will include places for recreation, housing and classrooms, he said. The school is also part of a larger $55 million capital campaign that includes a new athletic and recreation field and a new regional sports complex.