SB 23 to Put Teeth in State-Mandated Consolidation

Last month I noted Huron lawyer Rodney Freeman's argument that last year's legislation forcing schools with enrollment of 100 or less to consolidate actually lacked, well, force. Per Asst. AG Scott Swier's indication, we now have proposed legislation, Senate Bill 23, that amends the language of SDCL 13-6-97 to include words like results, operative, and implement.

Oh well. The loophole was fun while it lasted. But hang on -- I heard Senator Heidepriem on Statehouse last night saying the Dems plan to make local control a central issue. Maybe they'll join lawyer Freeman and fight this effort to take away local self-determination.