The South Dakota legislature’s Property Tax Task Force convened for its first meeting recently (5/30) and if the discussion is any indication of what’s to come the school funding formula and how property taxes are used to fund public schools will be a major player in the study and changes could be proposed.

“I think the focus of this group should be looking for a different method to fund education,” Sen. Jim Mehlhaff shared with fellow task force members, which totals 16 legislators and two non-legislative members and can be found here: https://sdlegislature.gov/Interim/Committee/505/Detail.

Sen. Mehlhaff went on to say the “property tax revolt” developing in the state is “tied to how the school funding formula works” and “the schools do not provide any of those types of tangible services that make our property more enjoyable or valuable.”

The scope of the task force’s study is: The Comprehensive Property Tax Review Task Force shall conduct a comprehensive review of property tax policies and identify measures to provide significant and lasting tax relief, by focusing principally on state and local revenues and expenditures and the funding of K-12 education.

“Everything needs to be on the table,” Sen. Taffy Howard said and suggested the group look at property tax and sales tax exemptions, TIFFs, opt-outs and “look at spending cuts across the board, whether that’s in schools” or other local government bodies.

The task force established three work groups under their umbrella, which will examine the school funding formula, local government spending, and state government spending and revenue sources.

Rep. Scott Odenbach believes the school funding formula workgroup needs to study “how it (funding formula) can be reformed and how we can find cuts” in school budgets.

Along with examining cuts to school budgets, Sen. Sue Peterson added the group needs to make sure there’s “not just an open checkbook for school boards to spend whatever they want without the consent of the people” because opt-outs and bonds “don’t have any sort of approve required for the people.”

The task force is scheduled to meet five more times – once a month between June and October – and will attempt to “stay open to ideas” from all parties Sen. Chris Karr said.

“There’s a lot of complexities” in the study, Sen. Karr said, adding the group “have to take a multifaceted approach” to the study.

“There’s no silver bullet, but we can do better.”

ASBSD has amended our sample policy on background checks and created a new sample policy for background checks on volunteers and employees of contractors to align with guidance provided by the South Dakota DCI.

GCDB: Criminal Background Checks – amended to meet the interpretation by DCI that volunteers and employees of contractors, by state law, are not applicable to state statute.

GCDBC: Criminal Background Checks – Volunteers and Employees of Contractors – policy establishes a process for completing background checks for volunteers and employees of contractors for school districts to follow.

Each sample policy can be found at http://policy.asbsd.org. Your district’s login and password information has been previously provided to your district’s administration. ASBSD suggests you discuss the sample policies with your district's attorney.

For questions related to the policies, contact Director of Policy & Legal Services Naomi Cromwell at ncromwell@asbsd.org or at 605-773-2513.

Registration for the Premier Learning Event for School Board Members and Administrators is now open!

Join hundreds of school leaders for the 2025 ASBSD-SASD Convention on Thursday and Friday, August 7-8 in Sioux Falls to network with fellow board members and administrators, learn from a keynote speech on school vouchers, celebrate achievements, absorb information from an excellent slate of breakout sessions, connect with great services for schools and prepare for the new school year!

Click here to register for the 2025 ASBSD-SASD Convention and follow these instructions: Convention Registration Information for Individuals, to complete registration. Individuals can register only themselves while Business Managers & Superintendents can register multiple people from the district.

Registration cost for the two-day conference is $205 per person with fees increasing to $250 after Friday, July 18 and $100 cancellation fee also applies for those cancelling on or after July 19 or not attending the Convention.

Districts registering 3 school board members receive a FREE registration for one administrator.

Attending Board members earn 20 ALL points for their school board and administrators earn 15 CEU’s!

A block of rooms has been reserved at:

• Sheraton Sioux Falls Hotel & Convention Center (1211 N West Ave.)
• Click here to book the room rate.
• Room rate is $139/night and last day to book is July 11
• Ramada – Sioux Falls Airport (1301 W Russell St.)
• Call: 605-937-6486 and use the code: 080625JOI
• Room rate is $104/night and last day to book is July 7
• Best Western Plus Ramkota Hotel (3200 W Maple Street)
• Click here to book the room rate.
• Room rate $110/night and last day to book is July 6

If you have questions or need assistance, please contact ASBSD Director of Communications Tyler Pickner at 605-773-8382 or at tpickner@asbsd.org.

Let’s honor those who dedicate time and effort to their local public school and public education in South Dakota!

ASBSD encourages your district to nominate a board member, an individual, group or organization or your public school board for a 2025 ASBSD Award, which include: Outstanding School Board Member of the Year, Community Service Award or School Board Award of Excellence,

“South Dakota’s public school boards and their members, as well as their local district’s community members, put forth a great deal of hard work to ensure their school district continues to provide great education and service to their students, staff members and communities,” ASBSD Executive Director Heath Larson said.

“We want to commend their efforts by honoring them with one of our awards and encourage you to nominate these very deserving individuals, boards and organizations.”

ASBSD School Board Award of Excellence: The School Board Award of Excellence is given annually to a public school board that consistently demonstrates outstanding leadership that enhances the achievement for all students. A plaque and a scholarship award of $1,000, which may be used, at the discretion of the board, will be presented to the recipient.

Download the application here or visit the Documents page where the application can be found under the Awards heading.

Outstanding School Board Member: Nominate a local board member who exemplifies extraordinary leadership of public education by implementing initiatives that spur student achievement, advocating for secure funding sources for K-12 education and setting high expectations for the district and themselves among other high-quality characteristics.

Download the application here or visit the Documents page where the application can be found under the Awards heading.

ASBSD Community Service Award: is presented to individuals or groups serving their local school district in exemplary fashion. Award nominees have shown personal involvement to improve the quality of South Dakota public education.

Download the application here or visit the Documents page where the application can be found under the Awards heading.

The deadline for application and name submission for each award is Friday, June 27. Applications for each award should be submitted to ASBSD Executive Secretary Katie Mitchell-Boe by mail to: PO Box 1059, Pierre, SD 57501 or by email to: katie@asbsd.org.

ASBSD will recognize local school board members for specific years of service on their local school board with the Distinguished Service Award. Board members entering their 6th, 10th, 15th, 20th and each five years thereafter in the 2025-26 school year will be honored. ASBSD will contact board members who will be honored in the near future.

Award recipients will be honored at the 2025 ASBSD-SASD Convention in Sioux Falls on August 7.

If you have questions, please contact Katie via email at katie@asbsd.org or by phone at 605-773-2502.