Lawmaker Supports Proposed Education Changes

Air Date:01/11/2011

By Kealey Bultena

Governor Dennis Daugaard says South Dakota shouldn’t measure education success by the amount of money it receives. One lawmaker says Daugaard’s proposal could benefit schools.

Republican Todd Schlekeway says finding adequate funding for education will make this a tough legislative session. The Senator says he supports some of the options the governor wants to give South Dakota schools.

Schlekeway says, "I did appreciate the fact that he wants to give local school districts more and more flexibility when it comes to reserve funds, when it comes to local control, those decisions. Also, maybe, we’re going to do some things to give them even more flexibility this session with using their capital outlay funds. I think it’s going to be extremely important that we do those things, because it’s looking more and more apparent that K-12 is not going to be immune from some sort of a reduction in funds this session."

The Governor says he will sponsor bills to repeal the 100 student minimum for state aid to districts and to remove the cap on reserve fund balances.

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