Archive for the 'Education' Category
MorningStar rates SD’s 529 plan
By Denise Ross
South Dakota’s sanctioned 529 college savings vehicle, run by Allianz, gets high marks from MorningStar, which has released rankings for the nation’s 529 plans.
No commentsThis plan … has plenty of appeal. Investors are charged just for the underlying funds, which in most cases are in the form of reasonable-priced institutional share classes. Plus, South Dakota is currently capping
Stan to the rescue
By Denise Ross
When Rapid City school administrators sounded the funding alarm, Stan Adelstein got out his checkbook.
Stan Adelstein put his money where his mouthpiece used to be, but the Rapid City Area School District is still well short of the money it’s going to need in the near future.
Adelstein pledged $165,000 to pay for elementary band and orchestra.
That is the lead of the lead story at the Rapid City Weekly News. Meanwhile, the Rapid City Journal also reported on Tuesday’s packed school board meeting as the winged prayers of SD’s school funding formula came home to roost in the state’s second-largest city.
“For years, music has been an essential part of my life,” said the politician and philanthropist Stanford Adelstein. “This opportunity must not be taken away from our children.”
Oh, what I wouldn’t give for a photo of Stan at the mic.
Meanwhile, Sen. Tom Katus, the incumbent Democrat who will face Stan, a Republican, in November, also took to the microphone, after
4 commentsSchool house rock
By Denise Ross
It’s down to the wire an a slew of education funding bills. Tuesday’s committee action should be both exciting and excruciating at the same time.
The Hoghouse has tried to pick the 3 most interesting of those bills, but that’s like trying to pick the 3 best varieties of chocolate.
I’ve written about Senate Bill 193 before, and I do believe this is the final chance for its sponsors to unveil their plan to save the world.
Right now, the bill simply reads: “Education in South Dakota is hereby enhanced.” Then again, maybe that’s a perfectly fine bill just the way it is. Who could vote against that?
House Bill 1214 would set the minimum public teacher’s salary at $30,000 by FY2010. I picked it over the other minimum teacher salary bills because this one hasn’t yet had a hearing.
2 commentsRounds’ weakest moment might be upon us
By Denise Ross
That South Dakota Gov. Mike Rounds takes every opportunity to pound the bully pulpit about what a disgrace it is that some school districts are suing the state - claiming woefully inadequate K-12 funding - might grow annoying for its repetition. But Rounds is perfectly within his rights as a political leader to make his case however and however often he sees fit.
That Rounds is running from the one opportunity to put his money where his mouth is, to say something in the one venue that will truly matter in this lawsuit - that he is trying to duck a deposition and testimony in the lawsuit itself - that is its own disgrace.
The Mitchell Daily Republic broke the story and said Rounds is citing “executive privilege” in asking for a protective order - a protective order! I know it’s all legalese, but that terminoligy will translate to the wider world that Rounds is afraid to testify, that he needs protection.
2 commentsFirst things first
By Denise Ross
Pat Powers at the War College knows a good headline when he sees it, and SB67, which would require SD high school students to apply to college, is as good as they get.
Here’s the entire bill:
Section 1. That chapter 13-1 be amended by adding thereto a NEW SECTION to read as follows:
In addition to adhering to the standards and practices established by the South Dakota Board of Education and the Department of Education, each student who attends an accredited high school in this state shall also, prior to the time of graduation, complete and submit at least one application to a college, university, or other postsecondary educational institution.
