When South Dakota’s school board members converge on Pierre this November to debate issues impacting South Dakota’s public education system and set association policies for the upcoming legislative session, ASBSD hopes to see board members talking.

The ASBSD Delegate Assembly, historically held in August, was moved to November last year to build more time between the end of legislative session, typically in March, and adoption of ASBSD’s legislative platform for the next year.

The extra three months allows the board and staff to better engage the membership in the resolution setting process.

"We’ve built in more opportunities for board members to discuss the resolutions and rationale," said ASBSD Director of Communications Brian Aust. "That added conversation needs to take place to ensure the association continues to reflect the positions and beliefs of our members."

Delegate Assembly will be the second time members see ASBSD’s proposed legislative platform. A slate of legislative resolutions and standing positions – which have the approval of a policy subcommittee and the board of directors – will be presented during the region meetings this October.

The two step process should be familiar to most boards. "It feels a lot like the process boards take when they adopt district policy," Aust said. "There’s a first reading followed by some time to think things over, then a second reading and a vote."

Members will also notice that resolutions are more refined and rationale is more data-driven – something ASBSD First Vice President Duane Alm attributes to investing more time in the process.

"When the board redefined the role of the Policy and Resolutions Committee, they made a larger commitment to the process," Alm said. "The board - and the subcommittee in particular - has taken a leadership role in moving ASBSD toward our goals."

The Policy and Resolutions Committee (PRC), chaired by Alm, has met three times this year. The six-member group built a slate of resolutions and standing positions based on last year’s platform and using a variety of fresh resources, including resolutions submitted from the field.

The full board heard and approved the platform at the August board meeting. If the discussion with the full board is any indicator, delegates will have plenty to talk about when they come to Pierre on Nov. 16.

"If ASBSD helps empower more discussion on state-level education policy, then we’re moving closer to our goals," Alm said.