Another piece of the historic education funding package passed by the legislature this year came to fruition on Friday (Sept. 9).

 

Members of the School Finance Accountability Board held their first meeting via teleconference to discuss the responsibilities placed upon them through Senate Bill 131.

 

Board members – who were appointed by Gov. Dennis Daugaard – are charged with the review of the accountability appeals made by school districts related to the imposed fund balance caps and required teacher pay increases.

 

The appeal process was established by SB 131 to allow a school district to request a financial penalty, which would be imposed as a result of not meeting the two accountabilities enacted in the bill, be waived if the district can demonstrate special circumstances.

 

Waivers recommended for approval by the board must also be approved by the legislature’s Joint Committee on Appropriations or Legislative Interim Committee on Appropriations.

 

School Finance Accountability Board members include Tri-Valley Superintendent Mike Lodmel, who was elected Board President, Belle Fourche Business Manager Susan Proefrock, who was elected Vice President of the Board, ASBSD Past President and Mobridge-Pollock School Board President Eric Stroeder, Brandon Valley Superintendent Jarod Larson and S.D. Commissioner of the Bureau of Finance and Management Jason Dilges.

 

The quintet spent the inaugural meeting reviewing the board’s duties and the possible process for, rules of, timelines followed, documentation required and factors for successful appeals. In addition, the board heard a report from the Department of Education on the collection of teacher compensation data.

 

Download the meeting’s presentation here.

 

Board members took no action on the items discussed.

 

The group is scheduled to meet again via teleconference at 9 a.m. on Monday, October 3. An additional meeting is tentatively scheduled in November, as well.

 

ASBSD will provide updates on the meeting and its outcomes. For updates on the School Finance Accountability Board, check the ASBSD Blog and Twitter feed.