Education and resource allocation were the main areas of conversation at the 18th District Council Cracker Barrel in Yankton on Saturday.
Several questions were asked about funding for school meals, a proposed 4% increase in school subsidies, and allowing private school and homeschool parents to receive tax money for their education.
Representative Mike Stevens and Senator Gene Hanhoff answered questions. Rep. Julie Auch was unable to attend due to an injury, Stevens said.
When asked about the proposed school lunch bill, Stevens said he voted against it because the cost of the program is not included in the bill.
“I don't know the amounts involved,” he said. “A lot of the requirements for that have changed. There were two or three different bills on it. If you don't vote for it, you're going to be accused of hating kids, but that's not the case. Not at all.”
Stevens added that parents currently have to fill out the appropriate paperwork to receive free or reduced-price lunch, but that hasn't been necessary during the coronavirus.
“There is an application that parents can fill out to get the funding, but they didn’t have to fill it out during COVID-19 when everyone was receiving the funding. Then when they came back, It wasn’t COVID money, so the parents weren’t filling in the money and there were changes in the levels as well.”
Mr. Hanhoff agreed with Mr. Stevens on the unknowns and accountability aspects.
“I want to see the bigger picture before I say 'yes' or 'no,'” she says. “I think the other thing…like Mike talked about, is that (some) parents aren't filling out these forms. You can just fill out a form and your child can participate. So, I think I'm thinking about accountability… You have to be a partner in all of this. You have to participate to do that. So, again, the revenue I won't say “yes” or “no” until we see what it looks like and what the priorities are for the Senate, House and caucus. ”
Lawmakers were asked whether they supported a proposed 4% increase in school funding. Both are on board, and Stevens could be considered further.
Hanhoff talked about the “big three”: health care, state workers, and education.
“I support a 4% increase,” she said. “I'm on that page. The question is, are there any other (dollars available)? We're looking at not just education, but the Big Three, so I don't think there's anything more out there. Hmm. Again, you're looking at health care providers, you're looking at state employees.”
Mr. Stevens said: “Well, I think it's more than 4%. From the perspective I'm looking at, we always talk about the big three…I don't think they're the same. When you get to 4%, it's actually Not all 4% goes to teachers. Last year we negotiated with providers and really gave them the big boost they needed. I'm not saying they didn't, but they were treated differently. I did.”
Another education question was about House Bill 1250, which would make $7,120 a year available to parents to opt out of public education.
“No, I don't (support) it,” Stevens said. “I led the fight against House Bill 1250. We debated the matter well in committee, and everyone who wanted to testify for or against was given the opportunity to do so. The vote was 12-3. It was done.
“If this bill passes, parents who receive these funds will be able to pay for car payments, utilities, housing payments, and food as part of their expenses,” he continued. Ta. “And you can use that money for any education expense, whether it's incurred in-state or out-of-state. Also, what's strange about this bill is that it requires the Department of Education, among other things, to Conducting audits, developing and implementing an online service for reporting cases of misconduct, and creating and posting on a website a handbook for participants that includes: Educational Empowerment Accounts. There is information and implementation methods, dissemination of rules for distributing debit cards, verification of tutor qualifications, and countless others. So this bill would require the Department of Education to do all this work without any plan as to how it will be paid for. We request you to do so.”
Hanhoff said that although she attended private school, she and her husband chose public school for their children, pointing out the different requirements faced by public schools.
“One of the things about public schools is that they have to accommodate all kids,” she said. She said, “We don't have a choice. We can't say, 'We don't have the resources to deal with special education.' …or, “I’m not going to take in a child who is probably involved in the legal system and may have behavioral issues.” Those decisions can be made at that (private) level. That leaves public schools. They are responsible for and must have the resources to serve the most expensive children in our schools. … I think we have to be fiscally responsible. We need to make sure our children have access to a quality education, but whatever option they choose, we leave that decision up to parents. ”
Both Hanhoff and Stephens emphasized that local control is essential.
Other topics discussed included:
• Gov. Kristi Noem's $1.3 million spending to deploy the National Guard to the Texas-Mexico border and whether it's an appropriate use of state tax dollars. Neither lawmaker was particularly enthusiastic about it. Hanhoff said: I agree to do something. I don't know necessarily if we're going to send troops. “I don't like the fact that I can't get compensation because we've had other emergencies where we send troops to another state because of fires,'' Stevens said. If they are going to do that, they should be compensated.”
• Carbon pipelines — Both Stevens and Hanhoff agreed this was a hot topic, but seemed hopeful for the possibility of a compromise and a “win” for both sides.
• HB1202. Addresses whether community service providers are discharging patients without due process. Hanhoff explained that the bill essentially deals with providers who feel they don't have the ability to serve a person because of that person's instability or behavior. She does not support the bill in its current form.
• Whether the state appropriately spent its coronavirus funds. Hanhoff said the state has exhausted all of its funding. She also explained the process the state uses to account for and audit these funds.
• Should the repeal tax be imposed if it is passed in November? Stevens thought his sunset date of 2027 was too late and too many variables could change in that time. Hanhoff said there are bills that have died in committee.
Saturday's Cracker Barrel is sponsored by Yankton Thrive, and videos of the forum can be viewed on Yankton Thrive's Facebook page. The third and final Cracker Barrel will be held on Saturday, March 2 at 10 a.m. in the City of Yankton Community Meeting Room on the RTEC campus.
