A bill to reward schools and teachers for innovative teaching methods was deferred to the 41 st Day in the House Education Committee Monday. The bill funds one million dollars to the top ten percent of South Dakota school districts, with the fewest students in remedial courses. Wade Pogeny with the South Dakota Association of School Boards urged defeat of House Bill 11-64, while stating it’s a good program.
"The problem is," Pogeny told lawmakers, "we have a situation where we still have a financial crisis in schools. And this does not do anything to solve this financial crisis. It may have a good intended outcome, but when you take a million dollars and add that to other projects, we’re still behind.
"The analogy I’d like to use for and with you is—education is a lot like a large boat, and that boat has a lot of holes in it from the past couple years of cuts, and we’re sinking. We need your help; we absolutely need your help."
The legislation mirrored a similar bill in the Senate, which was defeated last week. House Education Committee members voted 11-3 to reject the measure.