NEWS :: Red Cloud Indian School

Red Cloud announces building addition to high school
posted on January 25, 2008

Red Cloud Indian School, a Lakota Catholic elementary, middle and high school on the Pine Ridge Reservation, has announced plans for a $2.5 million addition to its high school, slated to break ground in the fall 2008. The new wing will feature an eco-friendly, state-of-the-art facility for the science and Lakota studies programs, as well as socializing and office space for students and faculty.

“Red Cloud has a rich history and strong reputation for always striving to provide the very best for its students on the Pine Ridge Reservation,” says Fr. Peter Klink, S.J., president. “With the announcement of this capital project, we will be constantly looking at the richness of our past to help guide our way into the future.”

Originally built in 1977 under the guidance of Fr. Earl Kurth, S.J., the current facility has produced students who are mindful of both their Lakota heritage and the needs of an ever-changing society, both at home and in the world. In the past year, seven Red Cloud high school students have been awarded the prestigious Gates Millennium Scholarship (the highest per capita among American Indian Schools), and more than 94 percent of graduates have gone on to college. The addition is the first new construction on an academic building in more than 20 years.

“It is imperative that we take the steps necessary to move to the next level, by providing the very best facilities and environment that meet the needs of every student at Red Cloud,” says Bob Brave Heart, superintendent. “This addition is representative of our commitment to our students. They deserve classroom and laboratory space that will give them an extra boost in achieving their post-high school goals.”

In the next couple of months, administrators, as well as local and state community members, will be meeting to interview architects and contractors, and to begin the design phase of the building. Students, parents, faculty and staff will also be engaged to offer their opinions in programming for the new wing. “We want to involve everyone in the development of this project,” says Brave Heart.

“This is a landmark day for Red Cloud,” says Nick Dressel, high school principal. “The vision of the school’s founders, to create an education of real quality on the Pine Ridge Reservation, is being realized daily. The completion of this project is yet another example of that.”

The school will be looking into ways to make the addition energy efficient, including the possibility of geothermal and other ways to enhance effective and efficient heating and cooling. The new addition is slated to be ready for the fall 2009 school year.

For more information, or to make a donation to this project, contact the Development Office at 605/867-1105.

Join us in our mission of educating the mind and spirit of the Lakota people, now and for future generations. Please consider an online gift.