An area of school funding will be studied by the legislature in this year’s interim. Members of the legislature’s Executive Board voted unanimously to study the state’s extraordinary cost fund, which districts can apply for to receive additional funding for special education costs. “This fund is getting hit pretty hard,” Rep. Hugh Bartels …
Extraordinary cost fund tabbed for interim study Read More »
The focus of the waiver process turns to general fund cash balance in 2018. Last year, members of the School Finance Accountability Board acted on teacher compensation waivers and at their first meeting of the year (3/12), the board took a look at the general fund cash balance waiver process. “I know that …
A new board charged with studying South Dakota’s progress on teacher pay has been appointed. Established in 2016 as part of legislation that overhauled the state’s funding formula, the nine-member Teacher Compensation Review Board will review teacher compensation, including comparable wage indexes in surrounding states. “The appointees have been made,” Department of Education …
Teacher Compensation Review Board members appointed Read More »
ASBSD will host three Collective Bargaining Seminars in March to update school board members and administrators on the many facets of negotiations process for teachers and staff. The 2018 Collective Bargaining Seminars will be held from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on: Seminars will cover how districts must apply the funding formula and …
Schools will receive an ongoing increase for next school year, as well as one-time money this year, after legislators approved three bills on the final days of the full run of session. A one percent increase – equaling approximately $12 in new money – in state aid and special education will be sent to …
Schools receive ongoing increase, one-time money Read More »
A bill providing appropriators more options when it comes to acting on accountability waivers got through to the governor. Senators passed an amended House Bill 1166, which provides the Joint or Interim Appropriations committee the power to approve, amend or deny teacher compensation waivers, on a 30-3 vote. An amendment added on the Senate floor adds a step …
Bill permitting Appropriators to act on waivers on to Gov. Read More »
With fewer than ten days left in legislative session, focus is turning towards finalizing the state budget and board members need to be advocating to their legislators for an increase in state aid for next year. A few weeks ago, members of the Joint Appropriations committee adopted revenue projections for the Fiscal Year 2019 …
Advocate to your legislators for an increase in state aid Read More »
Legislative Cracker Barrels in your area offer access to your local legislators, as well as the chance to hear their answers on a variety of legislative topics. Below you will find a list of dates and locations of legislative cracker barrels being held throughout South Dakota that have been posted thus far. Please …
A bill providing appropriators more decision making ability on waivers is a step closer to law. On a 6-3 vote, Senate appropriators approved House Bill 1166, which provides the Joint or Interim Appropriations committee the power to approve, amend or deny teacher compensation waivers. Sen. Justin Cronin told committee members the bill came about following the past year’s …
Bill providing appropriators leeway on waivers reaches Senate floor Read More »
Two bills aimed at adjusting accountability faltered on their respective chamber floors last week (2/22). On a 32-34 vote, Representatives defeated House Bill 1128, which revises certain provisions regarding increases in teacher compensation. HB 1128 required school districts to meet the teacher compensation accountability standard by increasing salaries by 65 percent of the actual percentage provided …
Accountability adjustment bills falter on floors Read More »
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.