Flexibility from certain requirements has been provided to school districts for the 2020-21 school year. Gov. Kristi Noem signed an Executive Order earlier this month providing accredited schools with relief from certain state requirements due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which include: Teacher evaluation. Suspension of the statutory provision of SDCL 13-42-34 requiring schools …
A bill attempting to create a new school system that was defeated last session will be back next year after receiving the support of the State-Tribal Relations committee. On a 10-0 vote, the committee endorsed the draft of the bill, which will create and fund Oceti Sakowin community-based schools. A similar bill was defeated …
Legislative comm. endorses community-based school bill Read More »
The latest federal COVID-19 emergency relief fund includes $54 billion for K-12 public education. The $54 billion for K-12 public schools does not include a condition related to funding based on schools physically reopening and operating with in-person education. The legislation also extends the Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) spending deadline to December 30, 2021 …
The 2020-21 School Board/Municipal Election Workshops will be held online starting in December. ASBSD in conjunction with the Secretary of State’s office and the South Dakota Municipal League are co-sponsoring webinar workshops covering all aspects of elections – from notices to the final canvass. The six webinars are free of charge and offered …
The South Dakota Department of Education is seeking an addendum, waiver and amendment to its Every Student Succeeds Act State Plan and is seeking public comment. The proposed addendum creates a streamlined accountability process to address the impacts of COVID-19, while the waiver is specific to the 95 percent participation rate and school support …
Public comment requested on ESSA addendum, waiver and amendment Read More »
South Dakota’s public school districts are in line to receive a state aid increase above inflation for the 2021-22 school year. At her budget address on Tuesday (12/8), Gov. Kristi Noem proposed a 2.4 percent increase in state aid, which is above the 1.5 percent inflation level required to be provided in state law, …
Proposed state aid increase above inflationary requirement Read More »
Nearly 90 Delegates took part in the first-ever online Delegate Assembly last month. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 ASBSD Delegate Assembly took place on the Zoom online platform where 87 delegates approved 39 legislative resolutions and 12 standing positions, which set the Association’s legislative platform for the 2021 legislative session that begins …
Delegates approve resolutions and standing positions for 2021 Read More »
The final meeting of 2020 for the ASBSD Board of Directors was held online last month. Directors met prior to the 2020 Delegate Assembly, which you can read about here, and approved the legislative priorities to be presented and voted upon by Delegates. The five resolutions approved by the Board as advocacy priorities …
ASBSD Board meets online prior to Delegate Assembly Read More »
Policies of a school district, especially those negotiated with bargaining representatives for the protection of teachers, have the full force and effect of law, and legally bind the school district. Wessington Springs Ed. Assoc. v. Wessington springs Sch. Dist., 467 N.W. 2d 101 (S.D. 1991). The National School Boards Association/Council of School Attorneys (NSBA/COSA) recently updated and …
Policy Alert: 2020 Policies and Annual Notices Required by Federal Law Read More »
Recently, Tiffany Sanderson was appointed as Secretary of Education by Gov. Kristi Noem. The Governor’s appointment of Sanderson is effective December 9, 2020. Sanderson, who currently serves a senior policy advisor for Gov. Noem, will succeed Dr. Ben Jones, who has been named the new executive director of the South Dakota State Historical Society. …
Associated School Boards of South Dakota is a private, non-profit organization representing more than 850 local school board members, the school districts they govern and the students they serve.