February 2015

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February 2015

A listing of legislative cracker barrels throughout S.D.

Getting a face-to-face meeting with your local legislators is tough to do during legislative session.   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 …

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Sen. Ed. & Senate affirm appointment, pass bills and resolution

Senate Education committee members covered a diverse agenda at Thursday’s meeting.   Committee members affirmed Governor Dennis Daugaard’s appointment of Dr. Melody Schopp as the state’s Secretary of Education on a 5-0 vote. Senators voted 31-1  in favor of appointment.   Sec. Schopp has served as the leader of the Department of Education for four …

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Action deferred on financial incentive flexibility bill

Action was deferred by the House Education committee until next week on Senate Bill 132, which would allow districts leeway to offer a signing bonus, moving expenses, or tuition reimbursement to a teacher employed in the school district.   Committee members heard testimony on the bill, which was passed in the Senate on a 26-7 …

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Two board related bills going to Gov’s desk

Two bills supported by ASBSD are on their way to the second floor of the Capitol Building to await Gov. Daugaard’s signature.   Senators passed a bill strengthening a school district’s local control over curriculum and method of instruction decisions on a 33-1 vote.   Sen. Bruce Rampelberg said House Bill 1101 would “make it …

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New open meeting provision would open up text records

The texts and emails of school board members and other political subdivision representatives are closer to coming under review based on suspicion of open meeting violations.   Representatives voted 47-22 in support of House Bill 1153, which would include electronic text colloquy on the list of public records that may be reviewed by the public when …

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New cap outlay option passes House

House members voted overwhelmingly to support House Bill 1218, which would allow any school district to designate up to $0.25 of their capital outlay levy to fund a post-secondary technical institute. The maximum level of $3 per $1,000 of valuation for the levy could not be exceeded by districts utilizing the new provision.   HB …

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Online education resource bill on to House

A bill described by Sen. Tim Rave as a “forward looking” pilot found favor in the Senate on crossover day.   Senators unanimously passed Senate Bill 176, which would appropriate funds for the development of online resources and a rubric of textbook analysis for use in school districts. The bill includes $1 placeholder funding.   Sen. …

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Agenda posting provision passed by Sen. State Affairs

Members of the Senate State Affairs committee unanimously passed a bill that requires a governmental entity to post their meeting agenda in a public place for a continuous 24-hour period prior to the meeting.   ASBSD supports House Bill 1125, which would add the word “continuous” to the law.   Director of Policy and Legal Services Gerry Kaufman said …

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Senate sends non-public school scholarship program to House

A bill that could remove up to $4 million in state funds to indirectly fund non-public school scholarships received support in the Senate.   Senators voted 23-12 to pass Senate Bill 189, which would provide a tax credit to insurance companies contributing money to an organization that provides funding to cover the cost of a student enrolling …

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