School Admins Oppose Education Bill
Air Date:03/23/2011
By Kealey Bultena
About 80 people packed a committee room in Pierre Thursday to hear lawmakers address House Bill 1234. The legislation is the governor’s education bill.
While senators heard an hour of testimony from supporters, they heard just as much opposition to the bill. John Pedersen with the School Administrators of South Dakota says the educators he represents want lawmakers to study the education issues instead of passing a new law.
"I represent superintendents, principals, business managers, curriculum directors and special ed directors, and as you can see today, we’re split," Pedersen says. "We’ve got proponents and we’ve got opponents. Yet realistically I know that our members are not happy with this bill as it is."
More than half a dozen teachers who showed up wanting to testify against the bill didn’t have a chance to speak to the committee because there wasn’t enough time. The Senate Education committee accepted a substantial amendment to HB 1234. Members passed the new version to the Senate floor with a vote of 5 to 2.
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
