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Board confirms positions on 33 bills, opposes two voucher measures and approves five policy updates
Summary
The board reviewed a fast-moving legislative update, voted to confirm district positions on tracked bills (including opposition to voucher bills HB1009 and HB1020), and approved five policy reviews and several routine motions including consent agenda approvals.
The Sioux Falls School District board reviewed its legislative agenda and confirmed formal positions on bills the district is tracking, then approved a set of policy reviews and routine agenda items at its Jan. 27 meeting.
Legislative positions: District staff reported that 33 bills were being tracked and asked the board to confirm proposed positions. The district identified two voucher-related bills — House Bill 1009 (educational empowerment accounts) and House Bill 1020 (education savings accounts) — as key bills and said it opposed both. Staff also identified support, opposition or neutrality on a range of other bills, including support for House Bill 1002 (South Dakota Indian studies course requirement for certified educators) and opposition to bills requiring cash acceptance for admissions and other broad cash-acceptance mandates. Board members discussed concerns about curriculum control and the practical effects of proposed tax and funding changes; the board confirmed the positions presented with one correction noted during the vote.
Policies and routine votes: The board approved five policies on first review or review/revision (policies in the B section, with minor changes to the board policy process policy BG). The board also approved standard meeting items earlier in the session by voice vote: approval of minutes for the Jan. 13 meeting, approval of the meeting agenda, approval of the consent agenda (items 9a–f), and approval of the supplemental consent agenda (claims to Sanford Health) with one abstention recorded by an unnamed member.
The legislative positions confirmation was approved by voice vote after board discussion; the board’s motion to confirm the positions included the one correction the staff noted. No new legislation is enacted by the board; the votes reflect the district’s formal positions to be communicated to legislators and stakeholders during the current state legislative session.
The board also approved five district policies on review with only minor revisions to the policy-review process; board members described the changes as aligning the policy review schedule with current practice.
