Gov. Rounds' proposed budget
sets off discussion over education funding

SDEA has been gearing up for the South Dakota Legislative Session, which began on Jan. 8, 2008. Funding, pre-k standards and the 65 percent solution are expected to be hot education topics during the 35-day session. SDEA is hopeful that as legislators gather in Pierre they are willing to have a meaningful discussion about the level of funding for k-12 education.

"Funding is once again the Association’s focus and it will continue to be as long as schools struggle financially," said SDEA President Donna DeKraai. "Right now we have too many schools trying to decide what programs to cut and those cuts come at the expense of students."

In 2005, the Alliance Adequacy Study found that South Dakota schools are under funded by $103 million a year. The funding gap, which translates to $820.30 per student, was calculated using the successful school districts’ approach to determining adequacy and represents funding levels tied to enabling students to meet state-level standards.

"Some argue the Legislature has increased funding for education and that should be enough," said DeKraai. "We still have not come close to funding public schools at the level laid out by the adequacy study."

The budget proposed by Gov. Mike Rounds would only increase education funding by 2.5 percent and while SDEA was disappointed by those numbers, DeKraai knows this is just the beginning of the discussion. She said legislators she has spoken to would like to do more.

"Yes, we are disappointed in a 2.5 percent increase but we also know that it is just a proposal and now our work begins," said DeKraai. "We know there are proposals out there. Some go farther than others but legislators on both sides of the aisle are willing to work with us."

SDEA will once again be working with the Alliance for Education. This Alliance may ask the Legislature for a one-time 4.25 percent boost to the per pupil expenditure. DeKraai said that while the increase isn’t near where it needs to be, The Alliance proposal is a place to start. "There will be a lot of talking and negotiating and we are hoping that when legislators leave town at the end of February we have made some meaningful gains for education."

DeKraai encourages members to keep an eye on what is happening during the session. She says members contacting their local legislators can have a significant impact on the outcome of the session. "We need the voices of our members. Our members are the legislators’ constituents and legislators are usually pretty responsive to their constituents at home."