A mandate on when school board elections reached the Senate floor after being sent out of the Senate State Affairs committee without recommendation, which means the committee could not reach a consensus to pass or defeat the measure, on a 5-2 vote.

ASBSD opposes House Bill 1130 because of its subversion of local control – a continuing theme of legislation this session – by allowing only two dates – one in June and one in November – on which school board elections can be held, along with a multitude of other issues raised by the change in law.

HB 1130 is on the Senate agenda and will be up for vote on Monday, March 10.

Please share the following speaking points with your Senator in opposition to HB 1130:

• Strictly anecdotal discussion the new election date mandate will improve voter turnout with no evidence to support the claim.
• Increased chances of ballot confusion for voters and poll workers with multiple ballots needed at a polling place.
• Voters’ residence will determine if they are required to vote in separate polling places on general or primary election day.
• Proponent testified during committee hearing the bill was aimed at making these elections easier for voters, but added there may be instances where a voter is forced to complete multiple ballots.
• Absentee voting period for school board elections is different than the primary or general election absentee voting period, which will be confusing for those choosing to vote absentee.
• An absentee voter will have to visit multiple offices – school, municipal and county – in order to vote absentee.
• Discounts the careful consideration school boards put into selecting an election date to ensure a smooth transition of incoming and outgoing board members.
• Primary Election Day turnout in 2024 was only 17 percent statewide, which was exceeded by multiple school board elections that took place on different dates.
• Places a non-partisan school board election into the politically charged primary and general election dates.

Please respectfully email your Representative member and share the speaking points above. Click here to find the email address of your Senator and click here to find which Senator is from your district.

If you have questions about the information provided, the Legislative Action Network or legislative session, please contact Executive Director Heath Larson at hlarson@asbsd.org or 605-773-2503 or Director of Communications Tyler Pickner at tpickner@asbsd.org or 605-773-8382.

The premier learning event for South Dakota school board members and administrators is seeking people to share their expertise and knowledge with the large contingent of school leaders who will attend the 2025 ASBSD-SASD Convention.

The ASBSD-SASD Convention is scheduled to be held at the Sioux Falls Convention Center on Thursday and Friday, August 7-8.

Download the Breakout Session proposal form here and submit it by Friday, April 11 to kara.brandlee@sasd.org.

ASBSD and SASD will review submitted proposals and contact the applicant(s) of proposals at a date in the future.

If you have questions, about breakout session proposals or Convention, please contact Kara Brandlee with SASD at kara.brandlee@sasd.org.

We have outstanding educational leaders in South Dakota.

Please join the South Dakota School Superintendent Association in celebrating our public school superintendents by submitting nominations for the following awards:

Outstanding Superintendent of the Year

The SDSSA Executive Board honors an “Outstanding Superintendent of the Year” Award to honor a superintendent who has made significant contributions to Leadership for Learning, Communication, Professionalism, and Community Involvement.

Download the nomination form here.

Community Leader of the Year

The SDSSA Executive Board has instituted a “Community Leader” Award to honor a superintendent who has made an investment in his/her community above and beyond the scope of the school district’s responsibilities.

Download the nomination form here.

Innovator of the Year

The SDSSA Executive Board has instituted an “Innovator of the Year” Award to honor a superintendent who has exhibited exemplary leadership ability in creating new programs or concepts that have a positive impact on staff development, recruitment, or retention, or creating new programming that directly impacts student learning, student achievement, or student educational experiences.

Download the nomination form here.

Rookie of the Year

The SDSSA Executive Board has instituted a “Rookie of the Year” Award to honor a superintendent in their first three years in the profession who has exhibited exemplary leadership ability in making a difference in their school district through new programs or concepts that have a positive impact on the dynamics of the district.

Download the nomination form here.

Distinguished Service Award

The SDSSA Executive Committee has instituted a Distinguished Service Award to honor retired or retiring superintendents who have exhibited exemplary leadership ability and have enhanced the school's superintendency in South Dakota.

Download the nomination form here.

All individuals nominated for Outstanding Superintendent will be automatically nominated for Community Leader and Innovator of the Year. Individuals may submit specific nominations for Innovator and Community Leader of the Year.

Please complete the components associated with the nomination. All nominations should include the basic data and overview sheet.

Nominations are due by March 28.

Legislative Cracker Barrels in your area offer access to your local legislators, as well as the chance to hear their answers on a variety of legislative topics.

Below you will find a list of dates and locations of legislative cracker barrels being held throughout South Dakota that have been posted thus far.

Huron:

At City Hall from 9 to 10 a.m.

• Saturday, March 8

Rapid City:

In the Event Center at the Western Dakota Tech Event Center from 9 to 11 a.m.

• Saturday, March 8

Watertown:

At the Extension Building beginning at 10 a.m.

• Saturday, March 8