By Dr. Douglas R. Wermedal

ASBSD Executive Director

Time is short in the session and important decisions remain. Three substantial school impacting bills are still in question, in particular SB 203 which allows enhanced carry permit holders to bring guns to school grounds; HB 1162 which mandates school board elections to the primary date in June or the general election date in November; and a focal point for many school board members, HB 1048, or the Teacher Pay bill.

Elsewhere in this issue you will read detailed summaries of the public debate surrounding these bills in Committee and on the House and Senate floors, along with a handful of other education-relevant bills. Here I will focus on what is happening with the “on-going discussions” regarding HB 1048. The process and method of impacting developing legislation is complex, but the issues are simple. . .

• The Blue Ribbon Task Force legislation, which provided the most substantial teacher pay increase in recent memory, is expiring and without new legislation, no guidelines for how South Dakota’s substantial education investment would be in place. Simply put, this session must produce some kind of accountability and increase in salary expenditure regulations.

• The desire to move South Dakota out of 49th position in teacher salary is widely shared. The $45,000 minimum salary represented in 1048’s current language would move South Dakota regionally to the top starting salary for teachers. Impacts to the national metric are undetermined, but would certainly be with an upward trajectory.

• A minimum salary criterion paired with an average teacher compensation criterion both of which move annually with state appropriation increases put a real crunch on district finances, constrain negotiations and erodes local control.

Consideration of amendments to 1048 will likely be before the Senate Education Committee in the coming week, probably Thursday. Amendments will likely emerge earlier in the week and come in the form of language seeking some financial flexibility so that the tricky balance between meeting the Governor’s expectations, responding to legislative direction and maintaining fiscal sustainability for districts can be achieved. A tall order, but as they say with a hopeful note, on-going discussions continue.

The discussion on how schools must budget around teacher pay is centralized into one bill.

HB 1048

House Bill 1048 is a bill to establish a minimum teacher salary.

The House Education committee amended 1048 to its latest version, 1048F, which added an “accumulation” for districts going above the salary requirements.

“Over the last several years, teacher compensation increases have failed to keep up with the increases” in state aid, State Department of Education Secretary Joseph Graves said.

A previous version of the bill set the minimum salary at $48,000, but a more workable $45,000 minimum has since been adopted.

Diana Miller, lobbyist for the large school group, said 1048 would be a continuation of the Blue Ribbon Task Force, which was a previous initiative to raise teacher salaries.

“Schools will have some challenges, but I view those as opportunities,” she said. “[Schools] will have to make some very serious decisions. It could involve some reductions in staff.”

ASBSD Executive Director Dr. Douglas Wermedal told the committee that ASBD looks forward to ongoing discussions surrounding HB 1048.

Mitch Richter, lobbyist for small and medium-sized schools, said the bill would need tweaks.

“There’s going to be some challenges for districts that have declining enrollment,” he said, adding that districts may need to start talking about consolidation.

District 33 Rep. Phil Jensen said the current bill would be “a disaster” for Rapid City schools.

“We’ve worked really, really hard to balance our budget,” he said. “I’m afraid that this would just be disastrous for Rapid City Area Schools along with all the other small schools.”

District 4 Rep. Stephanie Sauder agreed.

“It’s going to be a struggle,” she said. “This is going to be really, really hard for some of our smaller schools. It just doesn’t iron out some of the wrinkles that need to be taken care of before we move forward.”

District 4 Sen. Fred Deutsch loosely supported the bill.

“This has been a really tough bill for me,” he said. “I’ve received so many emails from superintendents … with challenging statements. I think this bill reimagines public education in South Dakota in a very significant way. I think this is a bill we need to support.”

The bill passed the House Education committee on an 11-2.

On the House floor, District 18 Rep. Mike Stevens called current account accountability “a useless benchmark” and said he believes the bill preserves local control.

If schools had “been complying” with the Blue Ribbon Task Force intention, this would have been taken care of, he said.

Rep. Jensen, again, cited declining enrollment for his no vote.

“[Schools are] going to have to make cuts in some places,” he said. “It’s hard for me to believe there’s a school board or administrator that’s trying to take money from teachers.”

Jensen also restated that 1048 interferes with local control.

District 27 Rep. Elizabeth May said no more waivers should be granted for districts that fail to meet the bill’s compensation requirements.

“I think there needs to be some teeth in this … tell these school boards we’re watching,” she said. “No more waivers” should be granted.

District 21 Rep. Rocky Blare said the 4 percent increase is a big ask for school districts.

“Accountability rests on those school boards,” he said. “Recognize, all our school boards are trying to pay teachers.”

District 13 Rep. Tony Venhuizen said the increases in state aid have not gone to teachers.

“If every school liked what we were passing, it would tell us we were not doing our job,” he said. “The teachers need to be (the school boards’) priority.”

The House of Representatives passed HB 1048 on a 58-9 vote.

The bill is now awaiting hearing in the Senate Education committee.

Joint Appropriations Revenue Projections came in higher than projected by Gov. Noem in December for the 2025 fiscal year.

Legislative Research Council Fiscal Chief Jeff Mehlhaff told the Joint Appropriations committee the economic forecast is “cautious,” but hinted at “optimism.”

“Ten to 12 months from now the country could be [in a very different economic environment],” Mehlhaff said.

He predicted higher sales tax growth because of the state’s higher-than-average wage growth nationally, citing FY21, FY22, and FY23 estimates where the state collected $100 million more in sales tax than projected.

“Nobody was forecasting our sales tax to be that high,” Mehlhaff said.

For fiscal year 2024, he’s projecting $11.9 million more in sales tax projections than projected. He warned there’d be less in collections since the 2023 legislature’s sales tax cut. Without the cut, Mehlhaff estimated a 6.6% year over year growth in collected tax.

His estimate for FY 2024 sales tax collection is down 0.7% from 2023.

Mehlhaff also said the contractor’s excise tax is experiencing a similar stepping-down effect, and that unclaimed property for FY 2024 is expected to be more than $68.7 million more than projected.

However, he expects a drop in FY 2025.

He also said inflation is holding at 3.3%, which he called the “floor.”

“An easing growth in total ongoing revenue [is expected from FY24 to FY25],” Mehlhaff said, predicting a 1.1% growth year over year which he noted was “way below normal.”

“I think a lot of this 1.1% [growth] has … to do with unclaimed property,” he continued.

He ended noting he could be a year early in the slowing down of the economy.

Derek Johnson, chief budget analyst for the Bureau of Finance and Management, said he’s expecting 2.7% inflation at the end of FY 2024 and 2% for FY 2025.

He also said sales tax collection is down 2.6% through January for FY 2024 compared to last year.

Johnson estimated a growth in sales tax collection for FY 2025 of 4.2% over FY 2024, but also estimates FY 2024 will be a 2.5% decrease from FY 2023.

“A little bit lower growth in [FY] 2024 [and] a little bit higher growth in [FY] 2025,” he said. “Our sales tax growth has averaged about 5% since 2000 … There are reasons to project we would have slightly below-average” collection in the coming years.

During discussion about the legislature’s adopted revenue estimate, District 13 Rep. Tony Venhuizen said fiscal year 2024’s revenue is about $2.404 billion in ongoing and about $2.501 billion with one-time money included, about $41 million over the governor’s budget.

He also set the estimate for fiscal year 2025 at $2.420 billion total, about $15 million or $16 million over last year’s adopted projections, he said.

The figure is about $21 million over the governor’s recommended budget from December, Venhuizen added, calling the estimate “conservative.”

District 23 Sen. Bryan Breitling said the adopted projections are “a very solid budget” for the state.

“In fiscal year 2025, we’re going to see a lot of activity,” District 18 Rep. Jean Hunhoff added.

The projection was passed 13-0.

Jacob Boyko

Communications Intern

There’s a lively buzz in the library at Madison Middle School, but it’s also uncharacteristically focused for any usual group of pre-teen middle schoolers. The 6th graders' heads are tilted down, eyes locked onto the careful work on the table below.

“How many kids know how to sew?” asked Dr. Cotton Koch, the middle school principal, as he looked out onto the bustling room. “It’s a completely lost art.”

The maker-space cruise class, which introduces many students to basic sewing and engineering, is just one of the seven-week “cruise courses” Koch’s students will rotate through over the year. The classes are meant to challenge students, mostly focusing on encouraging their creative development, Koch said.

The project, a small stuffed monster with a small battery-operated bulb inside, is part of a kit students put together. Apart from basic sewing, students also are exposed to practical STEM skills, like basic circuits and applied math.

Sisters Kaitlyn and Olivia Malone held up their work-in-progress monsters and explained the process.

“Right now we’re making monsters and they’ll have glowy eyes, and there are batteries in the back of them,” Olivia explained.

Kaitlyn said she was enjoying the class and the exposure to basic sewing and circuitry.

Students also have access to other “stations” in the library, including multiple 3D printers, a bead stringing station, and 3D printing pens.

“It’s unscripted and the imagination can run wild,” Koch said. “A lot of kids don’t know how to be able to be creative, and this gives them a chance to try and fail that’s pretty low stakes.”

Koch said that while his students are impressive, providing hands-on experiences is only possible with “the right people leading” in the classrooms.

“If you aren’t going to be able to learn right along with the kids, they won’t be able to do it,” said Carrie Struder, library assistant at MMS.

Koch waded through the sea of middle schoolers, asking about some of the more peculiar monsters in the amassing army.

“It sparks a whole lot of creativity and learning not just in here, but in the classroom and at home in their lives,” he said.

Three bills advanced from the committee stage.

SB 212

Senate Bill 212 is an act to allow school boards to authorize a district’s payments for goods and services prior to the next board meeting if the board specifies the vendor and the maximum amount allowed for the payment.

District 19 Sen. Kyle Schoenfish told the Senate Education committee the bill is necessary because the imprest funds schools set aside sometimes aren’t enough to cover some of the larger bills, like utilities and vendors.

“If they put in the minutes they’re going to pay these [bills] before the meetings, I think that will allow them to have better practices,” Schoenfish continued. “We don’t want our schools unnecessarily accumulating finance and interest fees just to avoid maybe being in violation with state law.”

ASBSD Executive Director Dr. Douglas Wermedal testified in support.

“Vendors have varying tolerances for accounts receivable and when interest starts to accrue with some payment windows being very brief or just not lining up with the meeting and the revenue flow,” Wermedal said.

“This bill would allow districts to anticipate that with a standard group of vendors, even if the payment windows fall between routine meetings, thus avoiding any interest charges and making district operations more efficient and more cost effective for taxpayers.”

The bill was passed unanimously. Since there was no opponent testimony, it was put on consent and passed the state Senate without opposition. SB 212 awaits a hearing in the House Education committee.

SB 146

Senate Bill 146 would categorize threats of violence to elected officials or their immediate families as a class five felony.

The threats would have to relate to the officer’s official capacity, and it applies to members of the statewide office, legislature, local government, school board members, judicial officers, and anyone elected who has yet to assume office.

ASBD Executive Director Dr. Douglas Wermedal spoke in support of the bill, which he told the Senate Judiciary committee will help protect South Dakota’s elected officials.

“Having such legislation in place helps safeguard the integrity of the policy and decision making process (of elected officials),” he said.

District 9 Sen. Brent Hoffman called the bill a slippery slope and said he was uncomfortable adding the level of penalty to the bill.

District 24 Sen. Jim Mehlhaff agreed.

“I don’t think a class 5 felony is appropriate,” he said.

District 20 Sen. Joshua Klumb cautiously supported the bill.

“I understand the hesitancy,” he said. “Are we putting ourselves ahead of regular citizens?”

The Senate Judiciary committee passed the bill on a 5-2 vote.

District 7 Sen. Tim Reed, the bill’s prime sponsor, urged Senators to support the bill on the floor.

“We should not have to deal with threats of harm,” he said. “Threatening violence is not okay (in the democratic process).”

He clarified that the bill would cover threats written and spoken.

Sen. Mehlhaff again spoke in opposition.

“I think it’s unnecessary,” he said. “I just don’t think being charged with a felony for lack of judgment … is good policy.”

The bill passed the Senate 23-10 and awaits hearing in the House Judiciary committee.

SB 198

Senate Bill 198 would authorize school districts and nonpublic schools to acquire and administer nasal glucagon, which is used to treat severe hypoglycemia in people with diabetes.

District 4 Sen. John Wiik, the bill’s prime sponsor, said the bill would clear up “gray areas” in the law so that schools can help juvenile diabetic students.

The bill includes liability protections for schools and also specifies only staff with training and authorization from the school board can administer nasal glucagon.

District 9 Sen. Brent Hoffman urged the committee to support the bill.

“It’s been on the market since about 2019 … it’s effective and certainly less invasive than a glucagon shot,” he explained. “A lot of districts already do the injection, and the nasal glucagon is power typically and it’s a lot better for young kids.”

ASBSD is monitoring the bill.

The committee voted unanimously to send the bill to the Senate floor, where it passed 33-0 and now waits a hearing in the House Health & Human Services committee.

We are excited to offer another summer of Dakota Dreams Career Exploration camps for rising 7th and 8th grade students! Applications are now open through March 31, so please help us share the news with students and parents. Check out our Spread the News Promotional Toolkit that includes a templated parent letter and social graphics.

Find basic information below:

At Our Dakota Dreams Career Exploration Camps, students can take charge of their future and have a blast doing it. Incoming 7th and 8th graders can join our free, five-day career camp this summer. They’ll explore exciting careers, meet professionals and dive into hands-on activities that unleash creativity and ignite passion. With more camps than ever, there’s more reason to join. Help spread the word to your students and learn more at Our Dakota Dreams.

2024 Career Camps Dates and Locations:

June 16-20, 2024 | University of South Dakota + Southeast Technical College

June 23-27, 2024 | University of South Dakota + Southeast Technical College

July 7-11, 2024 | Black Hills State University + South Dakota Mines + Western Dakota Technical College

July 7-11, 2024 | Northern State University + Lake Area Technical College

July 7-11, 2024 | South Dakota State University + Mitchell Technical College

July 14-18, 2024 | Black Hills State University + South Dakota Mines + Western Dakota Technical College

July 14-18, 2024 | Dakota State University + Mitchell Technical College

July 14-18, 2024 | Northern State University + Lake Area Technical College

July 14-18, 2024 | South Dakota State University + Lake Area Technical College

Find the application form here. Each camp will accept 100 participants. The deadline to apply is March 31. Students are expected to be notified of acceptance via email by mid-April 2024. If availability is limited at a particular site, preference will be given to students from school districts categorized as Title I or as having high absenteeism during COVID.

The Dakota Dreams Career Exploration Summer Camps are a partnership of the South Dakota Board of Regents, South Dakota Technical Colleges, South Dakota businesses and industry, and the South Dakota Department of Education (DOE). The camps are funded with federal dollars available to DOE through the American Rescue Plan Act.

If you have questions, please contact S.D. Board of Regents System Academic Program Manager Molly Weisgram at molly.weisgram@sdbor.edu or at 605-773-3455.

Three bills were sent to the Senate floor from Senate Education.

HB 1187

House Bill 1187 would create a one-year career and technical educator permit. The purpose of the bill is to fill instructor positions when schools are unable to hire certified educators.

To be eligible for the permit, an applicant must hold a high school diploma or equivalent and have an associate of applied science degree in a related field, 2,000 hours of work experience in the previous three years or have a national or state certification in a related field.

ASBD supports this bill, which would bring in practical workforce skill sets to schools, fill open positions, and enrich the curriculum, Executive Director Dr. Douglas R. Wermedal testified.

During a hearing before the Senate Education committee, prime sponsor and District 4 Rep. Stephanie Sauder said her bill recognizes and capitalizes on a candidate’s on-the-job experience while preserving local control.

“This is truly a workforce development issue in South Dakota,” School Administrators of South Dakota Executive Director Rob Monson said. “It gives all the autonomy to school boards … and takes away all the hoops we have to jump through for a year to year contract.”

There was no opponent testimony. The bill passed 6-0 and awaits a vote on the Senate floor.

HB 1197

House Bill 1197 is an act that would require libraries and school boards to publish, either on the library/ district website or in a newspaper, measures restricting minors from accessing obscene matter or materials.

“(The bill) requires schools our public schools … to prepare, adopt, and publish policy” on material harmful to minors,” said District 18 Rep. Mike Stevens, also the bill’s prime sponsor.

State Department of Education Secretary Dr. Joseph Graves called the proposal a “timely reminder for schools and a bedrock for parents.”

Rob Monson from School Administrators of South Dakota said school districts already have policies and practices in place, and that HB 1197 will only put the policy front and center.

District 10 Sen. Liz Larson encouraged schools to guide parents as well.

“I would encourage those schools … to include even two sentences of guidance for parents … to make that policy more consistent in the home,” she said.

The Senate Education committee passed the bill 6-0. It now awaits a vote on the Senate Floor.

HB 1220

House Bill 1220 allows an appeal of a state Department of Education decision regarding special education or related services by a civil action against the department.

District 8 Rep. Tim Reisch, the bill’s prime sponsor, said.

Tyler Coverdale, a school attorney, also testified.

“I believe this bill is necessary to effectively streamline this (appeal) process,” Clovendale said. “...But most importantly, it’s about helping students with disabilities.”

Cole Uecker from Disability Rights South Dakota said the interests of parents and families to get due process supersedes the time period challenge.

The bill passed, which has passed through the House of Representatives and now the Senate Education Committee, awaits a vote on the Senate floor.

Jacob Boyko

ASBSD Communications Intern

While middle school students are busy stitching their monsters together, Madison’s high schoolers are hard at work learning other practical skills in the kitchen.

Chase Steurwald isn’t a stranger to cooking. In fact, the culinary 3 student is usually the designated chef when it comes to family events.

“I liked cooking before this class,” he said as he whisked a Swiss meringue for his almond cake. “But I can try a lot more stuff now that I’m a lot more confident doing.”

Through Madison’s culinary courses, students have the opportunity to earn their safe serving certification as well as the higher-level food manager certification, according to Katie Brooks, the family and consumer sciences teacher.

With a managerial certificate, the students will have the skills to work higher-level roles in food service operations, and are designated persons in charge for overseeing safety in an establishment.

State Department of Health requires food service operations have at least one person on staff who has this certification.

The Culinary 3 course focuses largely on production, Brooks said, with students selling sugar cookies and other treats to the Future Business Leaders of America group to sell in the student store.

“We also do themes like heart-shaped cookies for Valentine’s Day, and Bulldog Bite protein balls,” Olivia Bonner explained as she dusted her stainless steel workspace with flour and rolled out sugar cookie dough.

The goal is to provide about 60 to 80 sugar cookies per week, which is about right to keep up with demand, the students said.

Madison’s culinary students even prepared the meal for ASBSD’s October retreat, serving lasagna with peppermint ice cream for dessert.

Thomas Machels said he enjoys the opportunity to cook things he wouldn’t normally cook at home.

“It’s pretty nice doing it in this kitchen, doing some experiments sometimes,” he said.

A bill increasing the amount of guns in public schools is headed to the House.

SB 203 would expand certain privileges for individuals who hold unrestricted enhanced concealed carry permits and would allow them to carry on public school grounds.

District 9 Sen. Brent Hoffman, the bill’s prime sponsor, said SB 203 is a final push since his last bills were defeated.

An amendment, 203C, was passed that requires individuals carrying on school grounds eligible through their enhanced permit first get written permission from a principal, superintendent, or person who has “general control or supervision of the building or grounds,” the bill reads.

Sen. Hoffman also claimed private insurers expect lower rates for school coverage when there is a gun in school.

“We force kids to go to school under criminal penalty,” National Rifle Association lobbyist Brian Gosch testified. “Since we force these kids to go to school, we’ve got to find ways to protect them.”

District 16 Rep. Kevin Jensen told the committee that gun free zones don’t work, and said non-public schools have allowed carriers on grounds for years without issue.

“I really think these are the most responsible people in the state,” he said of the nearly 11,000 enhanced permit holders in South Dakota.

ASBSD opposes this bill, which will increase the amount of guns on school campuses.

“Whatever SB 203 does, it means more guns in schools … at basketball games … at graduation,” Executive Director Dr. Douglas Wermedal testified. “More guns in schools means more risks. The control of the weapon can be lost to a bad actor. “

Wermedal then asked what the problem is the bill is meant to solve, and pointed out that current law already a school resource officer or sentinel to carry on school grounds.

“Has there been any clamor to carry a weapon on school grounds outside of what’s already articulated (in state law)?” he asked.

Mitch Richter from the United School Association seconded Wermedal’s point, saying that he hasn’t heard superintendents of school boards asking for the bill.

Richter also questioned how schools will verify a carrier has the proper permit.

The bill passed the Senate Judiciary committee 7-0.

On the Senate floor, Hoffman told senators there’s already 32 states that allow firearms to be carried on school premises.

However, South Dakota is already one of those 32 because of the school sentinel program.

SB 203 passed 31-3 and awaits a hearing in the House Judiciary committee.

The South Dakota School Superintendent Association is accepting nominations for their 2024 state awards.

Nominations are being sought for:

• Outstanding Superintendent of the Year;
• Innovator of the Year;
• Community Leader of the Year;
• Rookie of the Year; and
• Distinguished Service Award.
• 
  

Download the instruction and nomination form here.

All nominations must be submitted by Monday, March 25 to SDSSA Secretary Jennifer Lowery – Tea Area Superintendent of Schools via email at jennifer.lowery@k12.sd.us or by mail to:

Jennifer Lowery, Superintendent

Tea Area School District

131 N Poplar Ave

Tea, SD 57064

If you have questions, please contact Lowery at jennifer.lowery@k12.sd.us.

ASBSD will hold four, FREE LAN Update webinars to provide updates from the 2024 legislative session and discuss the advocacy strategies for LAN members.

Join ASBSD Executive Director Dr. Douglas R. Wermedal and Director of Communications Tyler Pickner at one or more of the LAN Update Webinars, which begin at 7 p.m. (Central), to learn more about all that’s happening at the Capitol thus far, with dates including:

• Wednesday, February 28 at 7 p.m. (Central)
• Wednesday, March 6 at 7 p.m. (Central)
  

To register for any of the FREE webinars, click on the link for the corresponding date you’d like to attend above, complete the registration form and on the corresponding email you receive, click the link to join the webinar shortly before 7 p.m. (Central).

Board member attending a webinar earn 25 ALL points!

You can also stay up-to-date on session:

· By visiting the ASBSD Bill Tracker page to find ASBSD’s positions on, a summary for, current location of and most recent update to bills throughout session. Bill Tracker will be updated almost daily, so check it often.

· Read the ASBSD newsletter for in-depth recaps of the bill hearings.

· Head to the Documents webpage for data and information on legislative relevant materials.

· Finally, check out the Legislative Cracker Barrels list for a schedule of the upcoming weekend events where you can meet and listen your local legislator discuss the latest legislative topics.

If you have questions about the webinars or need assistance registering, please contact me.

Two school election mandate bills took two different directions in the legislature.

HB 1162

House Bill 1162 is a bill to align school board elections with primary or general elections.

District 6 Rep. Aaron Aylward says the bill would save districts $123,000 every two years while increasing voter turnout.

District 2 Rep. David Kull spoke in opposition, telling the House of Representatives that residents in a school district can lobby the school boards directly for election day changes.

District 13 Rep. Tony Venhuizen said it’s “a matter of this body (the legislature)” to make the changes since school districts have not.

“We want people to show up (and vote),” he said.

District 24 Rep. Will Mortenson also supported the bill, calling current state law “inconvenient” for voters.

“Is it really a problem?” District 32 Rep. Becky Drury asked the House of Representatives. “This is not an issue that came from school board members.”

The bill passed the House of Representatives 40-29. It awaits hearing in the Senate State Affairs committee.

HB 1164

House Bill 1164 would require school boards to hold a bond election at a primary or general school general election.

The bill’s prime sponsor, District 6 Rep. Aaron Aylward, said his goal is to increase turnout and save money.

ASBSD opposed this bill.

District 28 Rep. Neal Pinnow said he’s seen schools “hide” bond elections, and that HB 1164 would give a voice to the people “who may not be paying attention.”

District 34 Rep. Becky Drury said the people who vote on the school bond issues are the ones who are educated on it.

“I don’t think we do this (bill) to hold our property taxes down,” she told the House of Representatives. “That seems like the wrong reason.”

District 16 Rep. Kevin Jensen warned that some voters might not understand the bond issue and will vote because they feel they have to complete the ballot.

The bill was killed on a 28-42 vote by the House.

One appropriation bill moved on, another stopped short in the legislature.

HB 1201

House Bill 1201 would appropriate $800,000 to the state Department of Education to continue the teacher apprenticeship pathway program.

An amendment to send the money to the state Department of Labor and Regulation instead of the state Department of Education was passed because DLR oversees the state’s apprenticeship programs and manages money, District 7 Rep. Roger DeGroot explained.

DeGroot said 299 people applied for the pathway program which was set up for only 60 paraprofessionals to become fully-certified teachers.

“The pathway is designed to have a grow-your-own-teacher model,” he said.

90% of the individuals in the pathway program now are scheduled to graduate in the two-year period of the program, DeGroot continued.

The program was capped at 88 individuals because of limited funding.

ASBSD supports this bill, which Executive Director Dr. Douglas Wermedal said encourages potential teachers to pursue their degrees and get in classrooms.

“Identifying opportunities for advancement (is important for current staff members),” Wermedal said.

The bill passed House Joint Appropriations 15-1 and awaits a vote on the House floor.

HB 1238

House Bill 1238 would reimburse school districts for costs incurred in providing reduced-price meals to students. The bill would make eligible students who don’t qualify under the National School Lunch Program or the School Breakfast Program to receive reduced-priced meals. If a student’s family income is less than 209% of the poverty line, the student qualifies.

The House Education committee referred the bill to House Appropriations on an 8-6 vote on February 7.

“Child food insecurity in South Dakota is about 13%” and one of the highest in surrounding states, District 14 Tyler Tordsen said. “If we can help feed some kids and help feed some families who are trying and who are working” then it’s worth it.

A representative for the Presentation Sisters also expressed support, commenting “children without adequate nutrition struggle to learn.”

Jim Terrwilliger, commissioner for the state Bureau of Finance and Management testified in opposition.

“A lot of philanthropists and businesses [are covering school lunch debt],” he said.

Terwilliger said the cost is an additional, ongoing budget appropriation.

District 13 Rep. Tony Venhuizen expressed concern about the bill opening “the door to the state funding which is also funded by the federal government.”

ASBSD monitored the bill.

HB 1238 was killed 6-0 by the House Appropriations committee.

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 legislative cracker barrels being held throughout South Dakota that have been posted thus far.

Please send any dates and locations of legislative cracker barrels in your area that are not listed below to Tyler at tpickner@asbsd.org and we will add them to the list, which is still being and will be updated throughout session.

Mitchell:

At the DWU School of Business in Lecture Hall 103 from 12 to 1 p.m.

· Friday, March 1

Rapid City:

In the Event Center at the Western Dakota Tech campus from 9 to 11 a.m.

· Saturday, March 2

Sturgis:

At the Meade County Erksine Building from 9 to 11 a.m.

· Saturday, March 2

Watertown:

At the Codington County Extension Complex with times listed below:

· Saturday, March 9 from 10 to 11 a.m.

Yankton:

In the City Commission Room at the CMTEA building beginning at 10 a.m.

· Saturday, March 2

The South Dakota Office of Indian Education has announced the launch of the Oceti Sakowin Essential Understandings and Standards (OSEUS) Online Training Course.

The course was created to assist administrators and teachers in integrating the Oceti Sakowin Essential Understandings into their schools and classrooms. This online course is free and self-paced, allowing educators to fit the class around their schedules.

Currently, the course is only available to educators with a K12.sd.us email address. The course contains three sections: “Getting to Know the OSEUS,” “Culturally Responsive Practices,” and “Creating Lessons with Inquiry Design Model.”

Watch a promotional video.

Educators will be offered continuing education credits or graduate credits upon completing the three-part course.

The premier learning event for South Dakota school board members and administrators is seeking people to share their expertise and knowledge with the large contingent of school leaders who will attend the 2024 ASBSD-SASD Convention.

The ASBSD-SASD Convention is scheduled to be held at the Sioux Falls Convention Center on Thursday and Friday, August 8-9.

Download the Breakout Session proposal form here and submit it by Friday, April 12 to kara.brandlee@sasd.org.

ASBSD and SASD will review submitted proposals and contact the applicant(s) of proposals at a date in the future.

If you have questions, about breakout session proposals or Convention, please contact Kara Brandlee with SASD at kara.brandlee@sasd.org.

A bill introducing a new physical fitness program found favor in one chamber, but was defeated in the other.

House Bill 1236 would recognize students as Rushmore Athletes upon demonstrating prescribed levels of physical fitness.

“This bill would simply create a Rushmore State Athlete Award” to replace the since discontinued presidential fitness program, said District 16 Rep. Kevin Jensen, the bill’s prime sponsor.

“The gym teachers are still giving the assessment,” he explained. “It will not cost anything.”

District 25 Rep. Randy Gross told the House of Representatives this shouldn’t be a state duty and it should be left to local control.

District 16 Rep. Phil Jensen called HB 1236 a “well-meaning bill,” but spoke against it.

“I think we need to focus on the things that really matter,” he said.

The bill passed the House 46-24, but was defeated in Senate Health on a 4-2 vote.

The Senate Education committee and full Senate approved two of Governor Kristi Noem’s appointments to the South Dakota Board of Education Standards.

Phyllis Heineman of Sioux Falls was first appointed by Noem in 2020. She was reappointed and will now serve another four year term.

“Ms. Heineman has been an outstanding member of the board,” Department of Education Secretary Dr. Joseph Graves said. “She’s a former teacher who’s passionate about providing opportunities for all students to succeed.”

Heineman served in the state House of Representatives from 1999 to 2008, and then the state Senate from 2011 to 2016. During that time, she served as chair of the House Education committee and later a Senate appropriator.

“It’s been a real joy serving on the board and getting to work with some great educators in a lot of different capacities who are committed to excellence in education for the South Dakota student,” Heineman said.

The second appointment was Watertown School Board Member Jean Moulton.

Moulton was appointed in June 2023 and is serving the remainder of Steve Willard’s term.

Graves spoke on Muolton’s accomplishments, noting her 43-year dedication to education.

“During her more than a decade-long tenure as the Watertown High School librarian, she developed it into a top high school research library in the state,” Graves said.

Moulton serves on the Watertown school board, has served on NorthEast Technical High School board and the Eastern South Dakota North Central Accreditation Team, and was appointed by Gov. Mickelson to the Teacher Certification Council. She also developed the first state curriculum for computer standards in South Dakota.

“My education career has been deeply involved with curriculum work, particularly for kindergarten through twelfth grade,” Moulton said. “Providing a rich, rigorous curriculum for students has always been my prime focus.”