Two education related bills took different routes out of committee.
Senate Bill 95, which changes the timeline for the Teacher Compensation Review Board to meet from every 3 years to every 2 years, passed the Senate Education committee unanimously, 7-0.
ASBSD supports the bill.
“I see this bill as a better state policy for teacher salaries,” Executive Director Wade Pogany told committee members, noting SB 95 allows state leaders to look at teacher pay data more frequently and correct course in funding for public schools quicker, if needed.
The Teacher Compensation Review Board met three times in 2021 after previously meeting in 2018 and concluded that while South Dakota had made great steps in improving teacher pay it had begun to fall behind regionally and nationally and were seeing increases in teacher position openings.
“The TCRB report makes the case we need to this (six percent increase) injection of money,” Pogany told committee members. “We are getting a little bit behind. One of our strives, one of our reaches, should be to keep up.”
SB 95 now moves to the Senate floor for debate and vote.
While SB 95 went through unanimously, Senate Bill 94, which would have added a member from each of the legislature’s chamber’s education committees to the S.D. Board of Education Standards as ex-officio members, fell in a narrow 4-3 vote by the committee.
“The sole purpose of this bill is to improve communication,” Sen. Jim Bolin, the bill’s sponsor, said, noting that at times the state Education Board and the legislature are not always on the same page and SB 94 would enhance those lines communication.
Committee members noted the bill’s merits, but cited a need to keep the Board of Education Standards apolitical and legislators can keep up with the body’s proceedings without sitting on the board.
“I don’t know that this bill’s necessary,” Sen. Wayne Steinhauer said. “There’s nothing that prevents us from monitoring what’s going on.”
For updates on during legislative session, check the ASBSD Blog and Billtracker page.