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Olson said that due to the state's low population, South Dakota would always rank as one of the nation's lowest-spending states in education spending. He added that one survey ranked South Dakota 26th in per-student spending.
"You're always going to hear that South Dakota is 51st in the nation in education spending," Olson said.
According to Olson, the public should pressure the school districts, not state government, to spend any budget reserves on increased teacher pay [Chuck Clement, "Property Tax Changes Explained at Crackerbarrel," Madison Daily Leader, 2008.02.04].
Low population means low pay? Ding Ding Ding! North Dakota, the second-to-worst state for teacher pay, faces an almost identical demographic situation and manages to scrape together over $3000 more for each teacher than South Dakota pays. Wyoming has even less population but manages to rank 30th in the nation (PDF alert -- see p. 19) and pay an average $9000 more than we do (and makes it hard for Rapid City, Spearfish, et al. to keep good teachers).
Instead of making up a bogus demographic argument, our Republican lawmakers should just 'fess up: they don't think teachers are worth a penny more, and they don't think it's their obligation to find more money for them. That's a lot simpler explanation, and it won't set off the BS alarm.
Did anyone ask him where the money came from for his raise that was voted on??? Maybe they could find some money for the teachers in the same pot???
ReplyDeleteRuss Olson is the Governor's boy, working for him in Pierre prior to coming to Madison. The partisan politics of Governor Rounds' education bashing continues and Russ has fallen directly under the charms of Rounds, Melmer and their ridiculous theories of education funding. Russell needs to stand up and be counted instead of letting his party dictate his thoughts and comments. Melmer's a fraud and so is Russ Olson when it comes to education funding. Poo Poo.
ReplyDeleteAnd I see Russ voted for the Governors bill to allow guns on college campuses.
ReplyDeletePack your pistol Cory!
One thing I respected about former legislator, Gerry Lange is that he always spoke his mind, even if it was not popular (and most the time it wasn't). Rep. Russell Olson has no opinion or proposals of his own, rather, he is regurgitating whatever his party is telling him behind closed doors.
ReplyDeleteHis comments on Education Funding in the Daily Leader were horrendous and incorrect. Has he spoken to a teacher, school board member or administrator? I bet he will this Saturday at the cracker barrel at Madison City Hall starting at 10AM.
Someone should ask Russ about the Governor's TWO funds...The State's cash flow fund and also their reserve fund. Schools only have ONE fund that cash flows monthly expenses.
To suggest school boards take reserve money and give it for raises is rediculous. That's exactly what Madison did, and they ended up making major budget cuts in the long run because anyone dealing with a budget will tell you, it's foolish to spend one-time money on expenses that will continue every year. Eventually the pot runs out.
ReplyDelete