The South Dakota Joint Appropriations passed a general budget amendment on Friday, increasing funds towards education. Lawmakers agreed that an extra two million dollars should go towards teacher wages in the state. Republican State Senator Bill Van Gerpen says it’s time for lawmakers to act. He says the public needs to know that lawmakers are aware of the problem and they’re working to resolve it.
"This will be added to the base but I think the message will still remain. It’s going out loud and clear that we’re concerned about teachers’ salaries in the legislature," Van Gerpen says.
Van Gerpen says it’s important for teachers to want to come to South Dakota and more importantly stay in South Dakota. He says higher pay could also improve the quality of future teachers recruited here. The Joint Appropriations passed this amendment unanimously, adding it to the general budget bill.
