In this episode of Laying the Foundation, host Skyler Gorsett sits down with Dr. Jerry Rasmussen, CMBA's education consultant and former superintendent, to discuss how thoughtfully designed school facilities profoundly impact student success and community growth. Listeners can expect an insightful conversation exploring why school buildings should be viewed as long-term investments rather than simple expenses, how modern educational spaces foster active student engagement, and practical guidance for school leaders navigating facility planning and bond processes.
(Skyler Gorsett): Welcome to another episode of Laying the Foundation. As always, my name is Skyler, your host. Joining me today is one of our newest team members, Dr. Jerry Rasmussen. Jerry, I haven't had the chance to meet you in person yet, so this is exciting. I think you jumped on a call to introduce yourself briefly along the way, but other than that, this is the closest we’ve gotten, so I'm excited to finally meet you.
(Dr. Jerry Rasmussen): Well, I appreciate it. Thank you.
(Skyler Gorsett): Absolutely. Jerry, could you give us a little bit of background on where you started within the world of education and how that led to becoming an education consultant with CMBA?
(Dr. Jerry Rasmussen): I always wanted to be a teacher and coach from about seventh grade onward, and that path was confirmed through my college experience at USD. When I graduated, I took a job back at what was then the Jefferson, South Dakota School District—which was where I went to school—so I really never left home. I was a teacher and coach there for 12 years and then a principal for 17 years. When the Jefferson School District dissolved and Dakota Valley started in 1994, I served as a teacher, principal, and then superintendent there.
Later, I took early retirement from South Dakota and went to Minnesota part-time for four years at a very small district. In 2018, I started teaching at USD. The chair of the Department of Education reached out because they were reviewing their curriculum and realized they didn't have a course to help future superintendents understand school construction, bonding, or facilities. He asked if I would teach that course, and I've continued working with USD on it ever since, even while still serving as a superintendent. So, that's been my career path in education, and while I've retired from the superintendent world, I'm still teaching at USD.
(Skyler Gorsett): Fantastic. You’ve had your hands in a little bit of everything—coaching, teaching at the university level, superintendency, and training other school leaders. When you transitioned into this role as a consultant with CMBA, what was your vision and goal?
(Dr. Jerry Rasmussen): I believe that architecture and well-designed buildings have a tremendous impact on students. I saw that firsthand when the CMBA team designed and built our new high school at Dakota Valley. I was deeply impressed with everyone I worked with and how their focus was centered on students. It's not just about the building itself, but how the building serves students and educators. Do people feel welcome and safe? Does the environment support a positive culture?
When Dan Munsch first reached out to talk, and later when Brian Crichton and I met, it solidified that this would be a fun opportunity to continue impacting students. It's about bringing CMBA's experts together with school leaders across South Dakota to design exceptional educational spaces.
(Skyler Gorsett): Looking back at your various roles, how has your perspective on the student experience evolved, and what key goals would you love to see implemented in school spaces?
(Dr. Jerry Rasmussen): The big thing is getting school leaders to view facilities not as an expense, but as an investment. They are investing in their students, their students' futures, and their community. Many school administrators haven't been exposed to a wide variety of modern facilities. We need to help them understand how lighting, flexibility, and climate control come together. You can build a cost-effective building while still doing so many things to enhance student opportunities.
When teachers don't have enough space or natural light, they often have to default to traditional rows where the teacher presents and hopes students are learning. Well-designed buildings open up a world of student engagement. Broadening administrators' horizons to experience something different is critical.
(Skyler Gorsett): In your experience, what are some major limitations you've seen in older school designs?
(Dr. Jerry Rasmussen): A common mindset among some school boards and superintendents is that the goal should be spending the least amount of money. While we know funds aren't unlimited, if your primary focus is solely on cost, you end up with very limited facilities that don't maximize student learning. It doesn't mean spending billions of dollars, but focusing on effectiveness rather than just the cheapest route. Poor traffic flow in hallways, for example, impacts learning time and education. Looking at how spaces can be used without built-in design limitations is essential.
(Skyler Gorsett): How can we help communities recognize the value that a school offers, bridging that cycle where community investment supports the school, and a great school in turn supports and promotes the community?
(Dr. Jerry Rasmussen): It comes down to purposeful language—talking about investment rather than cost. For instance, Career and Technical Education (CTE) spaces are investments in the local workforce. It's about framing the conversation so homeowners don't just see a tax cost, but see the opportunities provided for students and the community. Do we want students to return home after school, work in the community, start families, and attract others?
The school and community are a partnership. We need to help school boards frame this not as a sales pitch, but as an awareness campaign showing how quality facilities help the community thrive. Sometimes that means repurposing existing facilities if funding for a new building isn't there, but the core focus remains community reinvestment.
(Skyler Gorsett): What pushed you to keep going and continue fighting for education rather than just retiring?
(Dr. Jerry Rasmussen): When I started teaching and coaching, it was about the students in my classroom. As a principal, I saw the chance to impact all students in the high school. As a superintendent, it was an entire district. This opportunity at CMBA allows me to impact students across the entire state through facility development—whether new buildings or repurposing spaces.
The focus is still the same as it was in 1987: How do we impact students and create greater opportunities? Better careers and higher incomes lead to generational change and can help lift people out of poverty. CMBA's core focus on people rather than just buildings was what truly attracted me.
(Skyler Gorsett): What about the perspective of teachers and staff interacting with these spaces?
(Dr. Jerry Rasmussen): My first classroom was very limited by square footage, forcing students into rows with no movement. With modern technology and teaching methods, teachers need spaces that allow for hands-on, collaborative learning. When students enter the workforce, they need to know how to collaborate as part of a team. They can't learn those teamwork skills effectively if teachers are restricted by outdated facilities. Excellent teachers are limited if their environment doesn't meet modern educational standards.
(Skyler Gorsett): When working with principals and superintendents in your university course, what other common concerns or conversations come up regarding building projects?
(Dr. Jerry Rasmussen): Many communities have a faction that says, "Four walls and a square were good enough for my education, why do we need anything different?" Furthermore, because school buildings last for decades, most administrators go through their entire career without ever leading a building project or bond process. When that opportunity finally arises, it can be intimidating. They look to the superintendent to lead, but many lack that specific background. That’s why partnering with an experienced firm like CMBA is so important to guide leaders and their communities through the process.
(Skyler Gorsett): What would you say to school board members or leaders who are hesitating to update their aging facilities?
(Dr. Jerry Rasmussen): To put it into perspective: How old is the car you drive, and what modern technology do you use? If we were still driving a Ford Model T, our capabilities would be heavily limited. Do you want to limit student opportunities? Look at it as an investment in the community's future. The real question isn't just "How much is this going to cost?" but rather, "How much is it costing our students not to make that investment?"
(Skyler Gorsett): That car metaphor really puts things into perspective. Thank you so much, Dr. Jerry Rasmussen, for joining me and sharing your incredible experience. It's wonderful to officially meet you!
(Dr. Jerry Rasmussen): I appreciate you. Thank you for the time, and let's keep impacting students.
(Skyler Gorsett): Absolutely.