South Dakota lawmakers are considering changes to the state aid to education formula. In his budget proposal Governor Dennis Daugaard asks for a three percent increase for education.That’s nearly twice what is required by law. Today, the House Education Committee hears testimony on why the figure should go even higher.
"You heard the good senator say his finest hours were spent here in House Ed—I assure you my message will not be one of your finest hours.Give me five minutes tops.”
Rob Munsen with the South Dakota School Administrators Association says while a three percent funding hike is good, it’s not enough to get education funding back to where it was before 20-11.That year, schools and other state agencies took the brunt of a difficult state economy and absorbed severe cuts.Munsen says public school districts continue to reel from the cuts.
Munsen told members, “Since the reset, we are down the equivalent of 500 fte’s in our schools, and they have not been replaced.Now we can debate until the sun comes up about other states’ revenues, income taxes, but the bottom line is South Dakota is 51, and continues to fall further behind 50th place.We can also talk about the lower cost of living, taxes, etc., but Joy Smolinsky (sic) testified in front of the Joint Appropriations last week, and stated teachers’ buying power has not increased since 1969.”
Opponents of House Bill 10-04 include Jim Terwilliger with the State Bureau of Fiscal Management.He says Education isn’t the only group that lost funds three years ago, and the state can’t afford more than Daugaard’s offer of three percent.
Terwilliger says, “In the whole scheme of things, when we look at some of the other groups funded with tax dollars, you’re really talking—if we’re bringing other agencies back to pre-cut levels, that would be funding of about 14 million dollars.I just wanted to remind the committee at the end of the day, we are constitutionally required to balance the budget.”
Terwilliger suggests moving the bill to the Appropriations Committee. The committee agrees.
The Committee also defers House Bill 10-67 to the 41st Day.The measure requires students in first and second grades to be tested before being moved up to the next grade.The bill drew strong opposition from State Education Secretary Melody Schopp, and Sandra Waltman from the State Education Association.They testify the bill removes local control from school districts, as well as any parental say regarding advancement.