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SDPB Radio Coverage of the South Dakota Legislature. See all coverage and find links to audio and video streams live from the Capitol at www.sdpb.org/statehouse

Lawmakers Quash Ed Funding Increase Proposal

Lawmakers in the House State Affairs committee heard a bill to increase the state aid to education to make up for the cutbacks undertaken in the last few years.

Gary Leighton Superintendent of Florence School located in the North East part of the state is among those who testified.   Leighton says his small school district had to cut two teachers in the last two years alongside a number of other cuts.

“We had 21 teachers before now we have 19.  We cut activities, as an example cross country went.  Some of our music  activities were eliminated.  Staff development, in kind of a crucial time for staff development was cut back.  We cut two days of the school year, two days reduction in salaries for all employees including myself,” says Laden.

Those backing thebillargue the state cannot afford to fail in its investment in young people.  They say the state has enough money in reserves and projected revenue to better fund education.    But opponents argue there isn’t enough money in state coffers to afford the increase in education spending.   The bill failed along party lines by a vote of 9 to 4.

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