Climate deniers, anti-vaxxers, creationists, genocide advocates and other GOPers want to bring their venom to the education task force.
Common Core might be contentious, but task force organizers, including some of the state's top lawmakers, say it has no place in the ongoing school funding talks with teachers, business leaders and community members. Lawmakers vowed this spring to re-assess the state's 18-year-old per-student funding formula as schools struggle with low teacher pay and a shortage of qualified candidates. Gov. Dennis Daugaard formed the task force and asked members to gather information and submit potential reforms in time for next year's legislative session. Some blame the standards for what they say are harmful changes to math and English language arts learning, and others suspect the Common Core, adopted by a consortium of states, represent a federal takeover.Read it here.
Even critics like GOP squish Jon Lauck are saying the American genocide is not being taught sufficiently in South Dakota schools.
The Sioux Falls Argus Leader's Patrick Anderson has been covering the education task force sessions ordered by South Dakota's Republican governor.
Several SDGOP legislators, including Fred Deutsch, are learning from delegates that a state income tax is the best way to fund education in a state last among neighboring states in teachers' salaries.
In 2013, South Dakota ranked 49th among the 50 states for per-pupil spending from the state level, which was $3,131 per student. At the same time, local property taxpayers ponied up $5,461 per student, ranking South Dakota 18th for public-school support from local taxpayers. [Local taxpayers foot majority of public school bill in South Dakota]Anderson has tweeted:
"This one gets applause: 'Policymakers making education a priority instead of waiting until the end of the session.'"
"At least two groups say they want income tax/corporate tax for k-12 funding."
"Place education on a higher priority than roads, says one group of teachers. "
"'We are in a crisis with no real solution in sight' says another group."
Democratic state senator, Bernie Hunhoff believes much more work needs to be done on funding education in South Dakota and that South Dakota should institute a corporate income tax in order to raise funds for education.
The tens of millions in the unsustainable costs of administrating 66 county seats and six four-year regental universities serve as part of pay-to-play political cronyism in a state that purports to be conservative.
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