Senate Education committee members decided to defer a vote on a bill that would restore state funding for Education Service Agencies until their Thursday meeting.   The decision came after the committee heard testimony and discussion on Senate Bill 76 and determined further input from the Department of Education was needed. DOE Finance Director […]

The spotlight was placed firmly on House Bill 1087, which would allow school boards to arm school employees, when it was introduced last week during legislative session.   HB 1087, which ASBSD opposes, will no doubt garner much of the attention this week, but in addition to it there were 11 more bills were introduced

  That question is now up for debate with the introduction of House Bill 1087.   The bill would give a local school board “sole discretion” to create a sentinel – essentially an armed guard – program to “promote school safety.”   Boards would have the authority to arm employees, security personnel or any public

“Sentinel” program bill focus of week   The second week of legislative session started out slow, but finished in a flurry punctuated by the introduction of House Bill 1087, which would giveschool boards “sole discretion” to create a “sentinel” program arming school officials in an attempt to increase school safety.   ASBSD opposes the bill. The

Two bills modifying the Bank Franchise tax (BFT) are not expected to change the percentage of revenue distribution provided to South Dakota counties. School districts located within a county receiving the revenue are allocated a percentage.   Senate Bill 56 defines a credit card bank (think Citibank) and sets the revenue split for the BFT

It’s been limited to this point, but at Tuesday’s (1/15) Senate Education committee meeting, three Senators broached the subject of and possible alternatives to school funding.   Senator Deb Soholt (14) said the current funding formula feels “like it’s in its own universe in relationship to where we really need to go with accountability.”   “Away from funding,

  Change possible for petition notarization   House Local Government committee members unanimously voted “do pass” on House Bill 1018, which would require independent notarization on an election candidate’s nominating petition.   Secretary of State Jason Gant testified the bill would make it clear for candidates that “yes you may or no you may not” notarize

ASBSD’s Legislative Action Network plays the role of grassroots lobbyist in the big picture of K-12 education advocacy.   Each ASBSD member district is asked to appoint one or more school board members as a LAN contact to lead their local school board in advocating for K-12 education. LAN members are tasked with keeping their

Restoration of state funding for Education Service Agencies was introduced today in the form of Senate Bill 76.   The bill calls for $500,000 from the general fund be given to the Department of Education for the 2013 fiscal year for the ESAs, which had most of its state funding cut in 2009. DOE would

South Dakota’s 88th legislative session kicks off its second week this morning. The second meeting of the Senate Education Committee meeting leads off the day with Secretary of Education Melody Schopp will be presenting the DOE’s educational outcomes plan for the coming years.   Last week saw 133 bills filed, but a mere six listed