Proposed look of new South Dakota School for the Blind and Visually Impaired

ABERDEEN, S.D. – The South Dakota Senate has passed three bills related to projects planned at Northern State University and the South Dakota School for the Blind and Visually Impaired.

On Wednesday, the Senate approved:

  • House Bill 1061, authorizing the South Dakota Board of Regents to contract for the construction of two athletic and recreation fields and related structures at NSU.
  • House Bill 1062, authorizing the Board of Regents to purchase property on behalf of NSU near the site of the current School for the Blind and Visually Impaired.
  • House Bill 1071, authorizing the relocation of SDSBVI to the current site of Jerde Hall and the transfer of its existing real estate and facilities to NSU.

Approval of the bills advance two collaborative projects: a new School for the Blind and Visually Impaired at the current site of NSU’s Jerde Hall; and new athletic and recreation fields that will be utilized by both schools. The bills now go to the governor for final approval.

“These bills are important steps in moving forward with our collaborative projects and capital campaign,” said NSU President Dr. Tim Downs. “I want to thank the Joint Committee on Appropriations, the House of Representatives and the Senate for their support of these projects.”

These projects are part of the NSU-SDSBVI Educational Impact Campaign, which seeks to raise $45 million. The campaign has already received pledges for donations totaling more than $25 million, not including a recent ask of $5 million from the city of Aberdeen.

Work is expected to begin this spring on the athletic and recreation fields. Jerde Hall is set to be demolished this fall and construction will start on the new SDSBVI, which has a projected completion date of fall 2019. Also in fall 2019, the final project of the Educational Impact Campaign will begin, when the current SDSBVI will be demolished. By spring 2020, construction will begin on an on-campus regional sports complex. Completion is expected no later than 2022.

For more information about the NSU-SDSBVI collaborative project, visit NSU Campus Master Plan or Educational Impact Campaign.

About Northern State University

Northern State University is a regional university that offers outstanding academics and exceptional extracurricular activities at an affordable price on a safe, welcoming campus. Northern State recently announced its Educational Impact Campaign, with a goal of raising $45 million for a new South Dakota School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, new athletic and recreation fields, and an on-campus regional sports complex. Once the campaign is complete, NSU will be the recipient of more than $100 million in privately funded building projects and scholarships within a decade. To learn more, visit NSU Admissions

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