Resolutions
Each year, the ASBSD Delegate Assembly adopts resolutions that guide ASBSD's advocacy efforts. Resolutions are drafted by member districts or by the ASBSD Policy and Resolutions Committee, a subcommittee of the ASBSD Board of Directors.
2009-10 RESOLUTIONS
A. Achievement and Equity
1. EXTENDED SCHOOL TERM
ASBSD supports accurately reflecting school district practice by extending the school term in South Dakota to a minimum of 990 hours, with full funding for an additional 27.5 hours of student contact time.
2. PRE-KINDERGARTEN STANDARDS
ASBSD supports the development and adoption of statewide content and accreditation standards for voluntary pre-kindergarten education programs. *** DESIGNATED AS A PRIORITY FOR 2009-10 ***
3. REORGANIZATION – INCENTIVES – GRADE SHARING
ASBSD supports legislation that offers sufficient incentives and assistance to encourage expanded academic opportunities and program efficiencies through voluntary reorganization, program sharing, grade-sharing and sharing of administration.
4. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
ASBSD supports full state funding to implement up to a total of 55 hours of comprehensive, quality professional staff development.
5. COMPULSORY SCHOOL ATTENDANCE
ASBSD supports compulsory attendance in public school to age 18 or until a student graduates.
6. OPEN ENROLLMENT – DATE FOR APPROVAL
ASBSD supports legislation to allow local school districts to establish dates by which open enrollment requests must be submitted to the local district in order to be approved, provided the legislation makes available exceptions or an appeal process to protect the student's best interest.
B. Local Governance
1. STUDENTS RECEIVING ALTERNATIVE INSTRUCTION
ASBSD supports the development of guidelines for evaluating the academic progress of students receiving alternative instruction and the establishment of effective regulations to ensure exempted students receive a high quality education.
2. APPOINTMENTS TO COMMISSIONS
ASBSD supports the appointment of South Dakota school board members to statewide commissions, advisory committees and forums that directly or indirectly affect the development of state education policy.
3. TECHNICAL INSTITUTE GOVERNANCE
ASBSD supports local governance of the state's technical institutes.
4. FUND BALANCE LIMITS AND PENALTIES - REPEAL
ASBSD supports local governance in the management of district funds and supports the repeal of statutory caps on school district general fund balances and any resulting financial penalties.
C. School Finance
1. ADEQUATE FUNDING
ASBSD supports legislation based upon South Dakota's adequacy study to increase per-student funding to levels that allow South Dakota districts to meet the diverse learning needs of every South Dakota student.
2. STATE FUNDING FOR ACCREDITED PRE-KINDERGARTEN PROGRAMS
ASBSD supports state funding over and above the base K-12 funding formula that provides voluntary access to accredited pre-k programs.
3. INDEX FACTOR
ASBSD supports legislation to increase the “index factor” of the state aid to education formula to 4 percent or the CPI-W, whichever is greater.
4. CATEGORICAL FUNDING
ASBSD supports legislation that allows caps on categorical aid to increase each year at the same rate as the annual increase to the per-student allocation.
5. EDUCATION SERVICE AGENCIES
ASBSD supports the reinstatement of full funding for Educational Service Agencies.
6. FORMULA CHANGE FOLLOWING ARRA
ASBSD supports legislation that would enhance the state aid to education formula that would take effect after the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 expires. *** DESIGNATED AS A PRIORITY FOR 2009-10 ***
7. CONSISTENT SPARCITY FUNDING
ASBSD supports consistent district-level funding provided by the state for sparse school districts as defined in SDCL 13-13-78.
D. Taxation
1. 150% RULE
ASBSD supports a gradual repeal of the “150% Rule” that holds South Dakota school districts harmless from any adverse impact on a local school district's ability to raise needed revenue through the capital outlay, special education and pension levies.
2. OTHER REVENUE
ASBSD supports current state law that allows “other revenue” to be used exclusively by the school district in which the revenue is generated. *** DESIGNATED AS A PRIORITY FOR 2009-10 ***
E. Personnel
1. DIFFERENTIAL PAY
ASBSD supports state policy that maintains a local district's ability to develop hiring, evaluation and compensation policies that support local efforts to recruit and retain quality staff.
2. CONTINUING CONTRACT
ASBSD supports legislation to extend the probationary period in existing continuing contract law by an additional year.
3. SOUTH DAKOTA RETIREMENT SYSTEM
ASBSD supports actuarially sound efforts to strengthen the long-term viability of the South Dakota Retirement System, provided the changes, to the greatest extent possible, preserve benefits for school employees and provide local school boards with the flexibility to make effective hiring decisions.
F. Unfunded Mandates
1. STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION MANDATES
ASBSD supports legislative action to require the State Board of Education to adopt a fiscal note associated to all new mandates placed on local school districts.
2. FEDERAL MANDATES
ASBSD supports full funding for all federal mandates, including the Individuals with Disability Education Improvement Act (IDEA) and the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB).
G. Federal Relations
1. ESEA/NCLB – REAUTHORIZATION
ASBSD supports a fully funded federal education policy for elementary and secondary education that focuses on improving learning outcomes for every child, provides for public school accountability and gives local school boards flexibility to develop education programs reflective of the local student population and community.
2. MEDICAID SERVICE REIMBURSEMENT
ASBSD supports the continuation of federal Medicaid Service Reimbursement provided to K-12 schools for providing health services to Medicaid-eligible students.
3. PAYMENT IN LIEU OF TAXES
ASBSD supports legislation to develop guidelines for disbursements of PILT (payment in lieu of taxes) fund from the county level to the school districts within the counties.