Board member warns of draft bills that could shift public money to private schools

Summary

A board member reported from the ASBSD delegate assembly and urged advocacy, saying several draft bills could divert funding from public education to private schools and describing a proposed tax-credit program that might let taxpayers direct up to $1,700 to education via scholarship-like mechanisms.

During board reports, a member who attended the Association of School Boards of South Dakota delegate assembly briefed the board on pending legislation that could affect public education funding.

The board member (speaker 5) said a record number of draft bills already exist that could be "detrimental to public education," and urged the district and community to raise voices and work with legislators. She described proposals under discussion as varied, including vouchers, charter changes, scholarship-style programs for private schools and a potential tax-credit program that could allow community taxpayers to direct up to $1,700 toward education through 501(c)(3)-style scholarship arrangements.

When asked whether the proposals were vouchers, the speaker replied that the drafts were diverse and "getting real creative," and that some drafts suggest per-head stipends even for homeschooling. She cautioned that specifics will depend on what reaches the floor in the upcoming legislative session.

The board member encouraged advocacy and participation in related webinars and meetings; the board noted the legislative breakfast on Dec. 11 as an opportunity for engagement.