School Group Appreciates Governor’s Budget Plan

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — The head of an association representing South Dakota's school boards says Gov. Dennis Daugaard's proposed increase in state aid to schools is a step in the right direction, but school officials hope the Legislature will give school districts even more money.

State law requires that aid to school districts increase each year by the rate of inflation, up to 3 percent. That would require an increase of 1.6 percent next year. Daugaard's proposed budget would give schools a 3 percent boost next year.

Wade Pogany of the Associated School Boards of South Dakota says the governor's proposal would help schools.

But he says school board members will seek a 3.8 percent increase, which would return funding per student to the amount provided before a 2011 budget cut.

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