Special Education Funding 012010 (audio)
Air Date:01/20/2010
By: Eryn Clement
Members of the House of Representatives passed an education bill Tuesday that allows the transfer of special education funds to fund other areas within a school district. While there is a general consensus with a majority of the legislators to allow more latitude with funding, some had high opposition.
The state of South Dakota receives twenty-eight point eight million dollars from the Federal government for education. This year with additional stimulus funding, the state will receive thirty-one point six million dollars. Now lawmakers want more flexibility as to where the money can be used. Representative Nick Moser opposes the bill saying that by giving schools more financial flexibility, he hopes it doesn’t hinder students.
“I just hope that when we’re trying to balance these budgets, when we’re trying to give school districts the opportunity to be flexible, I hope it’s not a situation that we’re doing that at the expense of some of our special ed students,” says Moser.
The education bill passed with a fifty-nine to eight vote and now moves onto the Senate.
Member stations can download audio file here.