Patricia Stricherz:
- Legislature has been working on it by bringing in higher ed, masters programs, Homestake mine
- involved in problem at local level, it's not easy!
- good opportunities move overseas, close down branch facilities
- no easy answer
- must provide education opportunities: only 21% of our HS grads go on to university
- need to encourage opportunities in secondary ed
- Finland makes college education free to kids who can get it done, views education as an investment that's worth paying for
- There is no free lunch; we have to pay for what we want in education and everything else
- Teacher salaries a disgrace; Republican majority won't listen on efforts to raise those salaries, are content to be last in the nation
Russell Olson:
- In Legislature, we've invested $8.7M in research centers across the state
- DSU is getting a new research grant
- $54M economic impact in return!
- Must invest in education
- USD's Ralph Brown questions whether SD is 50th in everything; adjust for cost of living and taxes, and we're 10th in the nation
- Real money for teachers: we're still 50th in the nation.
- Real issue is creating new wealth
- We can do that with energy. Energy can be one of our greatest catalysts for new wealth.
- University research is great investment, but we need to invest also in inviting energy-related business to come here, just like Iowa and Minnesota do (you've seen the windmills there: "we have better wind, but they have better incentives")
- SD has a bad image elsewhere: folks ask Scott why SD isn't willing to invest in education, and that perception hurts us. Businesses think about that.
- huge proponent of R&D and higher education
- Homestake very good
- higher ed means higher paying jobs
- graduate programs are important; increase 'em
- K-12: "it all begins down there"
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