March08

No reprieve for levy bill

House Bill 1239’s transformation today wasn’t what Senators had in mind.   A conference committee was requested this morning in the House to review the bill, which underwent a change in the Senate to appropriate funds to the Board of Regents to cover the increase to employee health insurance costs.   Conference committee members elected

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March08

Gov. signs Sentinel bill

Governor Dennis Daugaard signed the bill allowing school districts to arm school employees and volunteers in and on school grounds into law this morning.   Prior to signing the bill, Gov. Daugaard had not indicated his position on the bill, but earlier in session noted he liked the bill’s concept.   House Bill 1087 gives

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March08

Schools receive three percent increase, one-time dollars in budget

The final days of the 88th legislative session entailed a lot of listening and waiting as members of the House and Senate passed or tabled a variety of bills, but the end result proved worth it.   School districts will receive a three percent increase – the first full increase in four years – raising

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March08

2013 Legislative Summary

A summary of the key bills related to K-12 education, which passed through the legislature, is listed below.   ASBSD will also host three webinar sessions recapping legislative session on Tuesday, March 19, Wednesday, March 20 and Thursday, March 21 at 7 p.m. An email with additional information will be sent next week to board

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March07

On the fly

That three word title fits the final two days of legislative action as bills will be passed or killed and the final budget figures will be put together.   State aid   The current budget proposal includes a three percent increase for school districts. A three percent increase would set the per-student allocation for the

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March07

Afternoon Update

Legislators have been locked in conference committee meetings and two different full floor sessions so far today, which has produced interesting developments.   Here’s a rundown of conference committee decisions:   Senate Bill 15: Conference committee members increased the special education levies to a maximum of $1.552 per thousand dollars of valuation and state aid

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March07

Critical Needs scholarship approved

Senators gave the final push to Senate Bill 233, which establishes a critical needs teaching scholarship and creates a trust fund program for student’s working towards a teaching degree in a critical needs curriculum area.   On a 35-0 vote, the Senate passed an amended version of SB 233 with $1.5 million attached. The bill

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March07

Off to see the Governor

Three bills with important implications for K-12 education are headed to Gov. Dennis Daugaard’s desk for final approval after Representatives and Senators voted to pass conference committee recommendations.   Senate Bill 28: The amended version of the bill adjusting general fund property tax levies for school districts passed the House and Senate by 62-5 and

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March06

One-time funding bills come and go

Senate sends on one-time funding   Senators passed a bill that appropriates one-time dollars for education on a 33-0 vote.   House Bill 1137 would appropriate $5.8 million to K-12 education, which would equal approximately $45 per student, $200,000 to CTE programs and $250,000 for the Teach for America program.   House Appropriations committee members

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March06

News and Notes from Tuesday night

Levy bill hoghoused   Senators hoghoused House Bill 1239 on a 28-5 vote on Tuesday.   The original version of HB 1239 would have authorized school districts to set a tax levy at 30 cents per thousand dollars of taxable valuation for pension and health insurance funding purposes. ASBSD supported the bill.   The hoghoused

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