It's safely sealed under a sidewalk right now, but the time capsule buried by members of the Central High School Class of 1979 will be dug up and reburied if the Rapid City school district moves forward with plans to renovate and add to the building.

"We buried where we thought it would be safe for 50 years," said Dave Johnson, chairman of the reunion committee, which will host the class's 30th anniversary celebration this weekend.

The capsule, put together by students in Julie Eberle's English class, is not to be opened until the 50th reunion, but members of the class grew worried the capsule could be permanently covered by proposed construction at the school.

But to move it, they had to find it first, Johnson said. No one in the class remembered where it was buried until they found a Rapid City Journal article and photo pinpointing its location - now under a sidewalk on the south side of campus.

Johnson has since worked with district officials to come to an agreement - keep the capsule in the ground until, and if, the district moves ahead with construction plans. Under proposed plans, it would be at least two years before that section of the grounds would be demolished.

"That's OK with me," Johnson said. "That means it stays in the original spot another two years."

Ron Minks, supervisor of buildings and grounds for the district, said there is at least one more student time capsule and that's at the former Agnes Parr Elementary School. Officials have encountered the same problem there - no one knows where the capsule is. They plan to search with metal detectors, Minks said.

Johnson said he is grateful district officials care about what happens to the capsules. Minks said he understands what their importance to the people who buried them.

"I put their mind at ease," he said. "I'm an ex-school teacher; I understand what it means."

There is nothing of financial value in the Class of '79 time capsule, Johnson said. The mementoes, valued for the sentiments, include class photos, a calculator, cassette tape, student essays about teenage life in 1979, a bicentennial belt buckle and beer can, and a poster of the rock band Kiss.

"Which was pretty hot back in our day," he said, laughing.

The capsule also signifies a time of change for the students and the school. The Class of 1979 moved from their former high school building, currently Dakota Middle School, to the new Central High their junior year. They are the first class to attend a full year before graduating from the new building.

During reunion tours this weekend, an important stop will be at the sidewalk where the capsule is buried.

"I'm going to make sure as many people as can see where it is, in case I'm not around (in 20 years)," he said. Minks also has included the location in his archives.

Johnson said he thought people might want to open the capsule this year, instead of waiting another two decades. But his classmates have been insistent that they stick to the original plan concocted 30 years ago.

"They said 'get your butt out there and find the capsule and bury it where it can be dug up,'" he said. "I figure they think they'll get a 'B' from Mrs. Eberle if we open it before 50 years."

Contact Kayla Gahagan at 394-8410 or kayla.gahagan@rapidcityjournal.com

If you go

Central High School Class of 1979's 30th reunion

• 6 p.m. Friday Mixer at Canyon Lake Resort
• 10 a.m. Saturday tour of Central High School, Dakota Middle School
• 6 p.m. Banquet at Canyon Lake Resort