The Tea Area School Board met May 18 and reviewed results from the TASK survey from district staff. Superintendent Tonia Warzecha said they had 63 respondents to the survey that was sent to staff on being able to get their children into TASK. She said 29 percent of respondents do not use TASK but would like to. Thirty-eight respondents do not know the process to get off the waitlist. Communication was identified as a big piece that needs improvement. Respondents said moving t

The Tea City Council met May 18 and heard about a possible golf course proposal. Landowner Mike Poppens and developer Steve Van Buskirk presented the idea to develop an 18-hole golf course with 360 residential lots on the south end of the city. The pair wanted to bring the concept of the Hammerhead Golf Course to the council to find out if they should continue to pursue the idea and research more costs. Van Buskirk said the community has been asking for a golf course and this

On Monday, May 25th, the Tea community will come together to honor and remember the brave men and women who have sacrificed their lives in service to our country. The Memorial Day program will commence at 9:30 a.m. at the Tea Legion Post 266, followed by a solemn cemetery ceremony. The morning’s events will begin at the Legion, where attendees will gather to pay tribute to U.S. military personnel who have died in service to the nation. Guest Speaker is Adjutant Dean VanDyke.

On Sunday, May 17, 2026, Tea Area High School held its 23rd annual commencement ceremony. “The Class of 2026 has laid a foundation of excellence as our district continues to build its legacy. On behalf of the faculty, staff, Board of Education and myself, I wish you well as you begin the next stage of your life,” shared Dr. Tonia Warzecha in the commencement program. The ceremony began with the processional of graduates, accompanied by an arrangement performed by the Tea Area

U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) announced Cadence Micucci from Tea as the winner of the 2026 Congressional Art Competition for South Dakota. Micucci’s mixed media artwork is named “The Original Soldier.” Her piece is pictured at right. Micucci is a sophomore at Tea Area High School. Her art teacher is Angela Kamps. The artwork will be on display for the next year in the Cannon Tunnel at the U.S. Capitol along with the winning artwork from other congressional distri

The Tea Area School District celebrated the accomplishments of the Class of 2026 during its annual JK-12 Graduation Celebration held Monday, May 11, in the Tea Area High School gymnasium. The event recognized graduating seniors for academic achievement, leadership, fine arts, athletics and community involvement. In addition to numerous local scholarships, district officials announced that the graduating class had accepted more than $803,000 in scholarships for their freshman

The Class of 2026’s top 1 percent of graduating seniors were recognized recently at the 36th Annual Academic Excellence Recognition luncheon for their academic achievements throughout their high school career. Among those was Jaycie Babb and Ashlyn Karpinen of Tea Area High School. Governor Larry Rhoden’s office and the Associated School Boards of South Dakota (ASBSD) honored students identified as the top 1 percent of their senior class, from the state’s Public, Private and

Jaden Schumacher is stepping into a breakout season with the release of his newest single, “My Hometown,” which dropped April 23, 2026. The song serves as a tribute to Schumacher’s small-town upbringing, highlighting the people, places and everyday moments that helped shape him. With its message centered on appreciating life’s simple moments, the track reflects the values he says were instilled during his childhood in Tea. “Growing up in Tea meant seeing what small-town life,

By Dr. Tonia Warzecha, Superintendent The Tea Area School District Teacher of the Year Committee recently selected four outstanding finalists for the 2026 Tea Area Teacher of the Year honor, following another strong year of nominations from across the district and from the community. Nominations opened on April 1, and the committee was pleased, but not surprised, by the number and quality of submissions. The response reflects what our community already knows: Tea Area is hom

Two Tea Area High School seniors were recognized among the top academic students in the state during the annual Academic Excellence Recognition luncheon held Monday, April 27, in Pierre. Jaycie Babb and Ashlyn Karpenin, both members of the Class of 2026, received Academic Excellence Awards for ranking in the top one percent of their class. The honor places them among an elite group of students selected from schools across South Dakota. The awards were presented by Lt. Gov. To