Recently, two bills aimed at introducing a private school voucher program in South Dakota were rejected in committee. While this is a win for supporters of public education, the discussion around education funding isn’t over yet.
Both bills intended to create education savings accounts to help families pay for private schooling using public funds. The debates were intense in the House Education Committee. Lawmakers, lobbyists, and education advocates shared strong opinions.
Rep. Josephine Garcia, a Republican from Watertown, raised a significant point. She highlighted a contradiction in priorities. “Last year, we killed bills that would have provided proper lunches for hungry kids, but today we’re discussing funding private schools,” she noted. “How do we justify that?”
Nathan Sanderson from the state Retailers Association added to the concerns, saying it is unwise to introduce new spending during this time. “Right now, we’re looking at a $40 million deficit in the state budget,” he explained. “We can’t afford a $4 million spending program this year.”
Sen. Jim Mehlhaff, the Republican majority leader, acknowledged that the discussion isn’t over. He mentioned that the governor still prioritizes this initiative. “The governor has plans to introduce new drafts,” he said, hinting that the proposal might come back to the table soon.
In summary, while the bills were currently defeated, discussions about similar proposals are ongoing at the Capitol. The conversation about education funding and priorities will likely continue to unfold as lawmakers seek solutions.
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