HURON The Huron Area School Board met with District 22 legislators Sen. David Wheeler, Rep. Lana Greenfield, and Rep. Kevin Van Diepen on Monday morning at the Huron Middle School to preview the upcoming legislative session.
Huron School District business manager Kelly Christopherson presented the numbers for the Huron school system to the legislators, highlighting the districts enrollment numbers, ESL numbers, percentage of free and reduced meal students, wages, opt-out history, and property valuations and tax levy changes in recent years within the Huron district.
Greenfield noted that she would be the chair of the House education committee, so she will be privy to many of the bills affecting education before they hit the floor. Board members discussed multiple bills that have been publicly proposed that could affect school funding.
Wheeler mentioned that many of the school-related bills that had been defeated over the past few years would be likely re-introduced this session, hoping to capitalize on the high amount of new legislators that could potentially give a different response to those bills.
Taxation and funding through taxes to school districts were top-of-mind for the board members, as was the proposed school voucher program mentioned in Gov. Kristi Noems budget address last week.
The board and legislator also heard from Karla Sawvell, Farm to School Coordinator for the district, as they ate lunch served by the Middle School cafeteria. Sawvell discussed the amount of locally-grown produce that is integrated into school dining. She mentioned that the program has grown primarily through word of mouth connections on social media bringing farmers and producers in contact with the school.
The board discussed the library policy to prepare for Monday evenings regular board meeting as well.
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