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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

Appropriations Bill For SD Tech Schools Passes House

The South Dakota House of Representatives is adding addition funding to technical schools. The House passed HB 1142 on Monday afternoon. Republican State Representative Mark Mickelson says South Dakota has four technical institutes and they are successful.

"We have about 1,400 graduates, annually from these. 97 percent of them end up employed if their field of study and 85 percent of them stay in the state of South Dakota. Among these two-year institutions, Watertown and Mitchell constantly win national awards for being the best performing institutions," Mickelson says.

The South Dakota Board of Education will use the funds to maintain and operate the four technical institutes in the state. This bill passed the House 63-6 and it goes next to the Senate. Joint Appropriations will determine how much money is appropriated to tech schools.

Nate Wek is currently the sports content producer and sports and rec beat reporter for South Dakota Public Broadcasting. He is a graduate of South Dakota State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism Broadcasting and a minor in Leadership. From 2010-2013 Nate was the Director of Gameday Media for the Sioux Falls Storm (Indoor Football League) football team. He also spent 2012 and 2013 as the News and Sports Director of KSDJ Radio in Brookings, SD. Nate, his wife Sarah, and two kids Braxan and Jordy, live in Canton, SD.