Superintendent Warns of Potential "0% Increase" in State Funding; Board Prepares for Legislative Session

Northeast Radio SD News - Watertown, SD - As the second semester begins, Watertown School District officials are turning their attention to the South Dakota State Capitol, where a proposed freeze in K-12 funding has sparked concerns over the district’s future budget.

During Monday night’s school board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Jeff Danielsen briefed the board on the upcoming legislative Session, noting that Governor Kristi Noem’s proposed budget currently recommends a 0% increase for public education. This proposal stands in contrast to state statutes that typically call for a 3% increase or the inflation rate, which Danielsen estimated at between 2.4% and 2.8%.

“Zero percent is 2.4 to 2.8 percent less than what the statute suggests,” Danielsen said, emphasizing that a flat budget effectively acts as a cut in a period of rising costs.

Identifying Funding Solutions

Danielsen outlined four specific areas where he believes legislators could find the necessary funds to support K-12 education without compromising the state’s fiscal health:

·        Reserves: The state has proposed increasing its reserves from 10% to 12.5%. Danielsen suggested that, in a tight-budget year, these funds should instead be invested in essential programming for residents, including education.

·        Sales Tax Reinstatement: A few years ago, the state reduced the sales tax from 4.5% to 4.2%. Danielsen noted that a portion of the original half-cent increase was explicitly intended for teacher pay, and restoring even a fraction of that could bridge the funding gap.

·        Unappropriated Funds: The current state budget reportedly has $14 million left unappropriated—an amount Danielsen noted is roughly equivalent to the cost of a 1% increase for K-12 education.

·        Enrollment Adjustments: While the Governor noted an overall drop of approximately 1,600 students statewide, Danielsen argued those “savings” should be reappropriated back into schools as a “hold harmless” measure rather than being moved elsewhere in the budget.

“The fun starts tomorrow,” Danielsen said, referring to the start of the legislative Session. “We’ve given contact to our legislators so they know where we stand, and we will be paying close attention to the bills as they drop.

District Highlights and Upcoming Events

Beyond the legislative focus, the district is preparing for several mid-winter milestones:

·        Staff Member of the Year: On January 23, following an early dismissal at 12:30 p.m., the district will begin its selection process for the Certified and Classified Staff Members of the Year.

·        Arrowhead Pizza Bash: The annual community event is scheduled for Friday, January 30, beginning at 5:00 p.m. It will run in conjunction with a boys and girls basketball doubleheader.

·        “Friends of Arrows”: Danielsen reported a successful initial meeting with a new committee of community members to discuss school funding and enrollment trends, with plans to expand these discussions following the legislative Session.