Latest news with #NathanLukkes
Yahoo
22-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
It's not hard to figure out why young South Dakotans don't want to be teachers
A student works on schoolwork at Journey Elementary School in Sioux Falls on Dec. 5, 2024. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) The leader of South Dakota's public universities gave a telling answer recently when a legislator asked him why the higher education system isn't churning out enough teaching graduates. 'We're seeing a drop-off in interest,' said Nathan Lukkes, executive director of the Board of Regents. 'If you go back 10, 20 years and you look at the percentage of students that were coming and wanted to be teachers versus today, the interest is going in the wrong direction.' Gee, I wonder why. Maybe it's because South Dakota raised its state sales tax rate by a half-percentage point nine years ago, ostensibly to increase teacher pay, only to lose focus and let the state's average teacher salary slide back to 49th in the nation. South Dakota House advances bill policing bathroom use, but related ID bill fails SD House defeats gender identity notification bill and taxpayer-funded education lobbying ban SD Senate rejects property tax credits for nonpublic education options House defeats bill requiring South Dakota state motto or seal in classrooms Bill requiring posting, teaching of Ten Commandments fails in SD House Lawmaker loses vice chairmanship after trying to defund Huron schools over bathroom issue Full Education archive Maybe it's because in 2019, instead of solving real problems in education, lawmakers passed a bill that requires every public school in the state to display the national motto, 'In God We Trust.' Maybe it's because in 2022, then-Gov. Kristi Noem politicized the revision of social studies standards by disbanding the original working group and reappointing her own handpicked, ideologically aligned members. Maybe it's because last year, legislators passed a law mandating higher teacher pay without providing school districts any more funding than they typically receive. Maybe it's because this year, the governor is proposing a 1.25% increase in state funding for public schools, which is less than half the current rate of inflation. Maybe it's because public schools and their lobbyists had to fend off three bills so far this winter that would have diverted millions of dollars from public education and doled it out as various forms of vouchers for private school tuition, homeschooling and other nonpublic alternatives. Maybe it's because public schools and their lobbyists also had to fend off bills this winter that would have required displays of the Ten Commandments and the state motto, 'Under God, the People Rule,' in every public school classroom. Maybe it's because some legislators reacted to the defeat of the voucher bills and the Ten Commandments and state motto bills by trying, unsuccessfully, to punish school boards by barring them from using public funds to hire lobbyists. Maybe it's because a state representative — Phil Jensen, a Rapid City Republican — tried to defund Huron schools recently after somebody told him a transgender girl was using girls' bathrooms in the district. And maybe it's because another state representative — Brandei Schaefbauer, an Aberdeen Republican — is trying to create a law that would turn teachers and school administrators into bathroom police. Or perhaps it's because of the way some Republican legislators routinely demonize teachers, administrators, school boards and their lobbyists for having the audacity to seek adequate resources for public education. House Majority Leader Scott Odenbach, R-Spearfish, sponsored one of the voucher bills and cosponsored the legislation to bar school boards from using public funds to hire lobbyists. During a recent Republican leadership press conference, he complained about the education lobby's influence. 'They come up with one answer to everything, and that's more money,' Odenbach said. In the state Senate, Republican Lauren Nelson of Yankton has been a legislator less than two months but is already aggravated about schools wanting additional funding. And she has teaching experience, although notably in private and homeschool settings in addition to public schools. 'The question I have is, when will the public schools have enough money?' Nelson blurted during a bill hearing recently. She was advocating for legislation that would have provided property tax credits for nonpublic educational costs. Nelson seemed to be railing against the public education establishment at large with no expectation of an answer, but I've got one for her: Enough money to rise out of 49th place in average teacher pay would be an obvious place to start. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX That doesn't appear likely to happen this legislative session. A growing number of Republican legislators are openly hostile to public education and are on a mission to strip away its funding and redistribute it to nonpublic alternatives that operate with no accountability. Some of them are waging a holy war, motivated by an unconstitutional craving for taxpayer support of religious instruction. Those lawmakers should stop treating public education lobbyists like enemies of the state. School board members, administrators and teachers can't come to Pierre every winter, because they're busy trying to educate South Dakota's children. Public education lobbyists are their voices in the halls of power. One of those lobbyists is Rob Monson, a former teacher and principal from Parkston, who serves as executive director of School Administrators of South Dakota. 'Public education is absolutely what made this country what it is,' Monson told reporters recently. 'If we lose public education, we will lose this country.' 'And that is my core,' he continued. 'That is our belief as an association, that we will fight all we can and with every breath we have to protect the sanctity of public education where all students — no matter their color, race, economic status or disability — are welcome in our doors every single day.' What if the governor and every South Dakota legislator felt that way about public education and worked that hard to protect and support it? Maybe young South Dakotans would once again view teaching as a viable career path.
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
SD university leader argues against maintenance and repair budget cuts
Nathan Lukkes, executive director of the South Dakota Board of Regents, testifies to the Legislature's Joint Appropriations Committee on Feb. 5, 2025. Also pictured, from left, are Rep. Erik Muckey, D-Sioux Falls, and Rep. Scott Moore, R-Ipswich. (Seth Tupper/South Dakota Searchlight) PIERRE — The leader of South Dakota's public universities argued against proposed maintenance and repair cuts when he appeared Wednesday before legislators on a budget committee. Nathan Lukkes, executive director of the state Board of Regents, discussed the cuts at the Capitol with the Legislature's Joint Appropriations Committee. He said the proposed $9 million reduction in the university system's repair and maintenance budget is 'very concerning.' 'We would hope as you're wrestling with some of those decisions and looking at what's the right decision and where to cut, that we can be at the table and find a way that doesn't put us behind the eight ball 10 to 20 years down the road,' Lukkes said. Noem budget includes cuts, but also new school choice program and more prison money The universities have a combined $700 million worth of repair and maintenance needs in their 10-year plan, he added, and collectively manage about $3.5 billion worth of infrastructure. The total budget for the university system this year is $950 million from a combination of state, federal and student-supported funds. Former Gov. Kristi Noem proposed the cuts as part of a broader plan to balance the next state budget in the face of declining sales tax revenue, deplenished federal pandemic aid and rising Medicaid costs. She's since become secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and her lieutenant governor, Larry Rhoden, has been sworn in as governor. Noem's budget plan also includes an additional $2 million cut in the university system's base funding, and Lukkes said the regents are 'willing to find a way to make that work.' 'You can't benefit in the good times and then scream and cry when there's a downturn and you're not getting any funding,' he said. Those good times included working with lawmakers to effectively freeze tuition for the past five years, except for one year when the average student experienced a $100 increase. The universities rose from fourth to first in cost competitiveness among neighboring states during that period, Lukkes said. Meanwhile, enrollment at South Dakota's universities grew each of the last three years to a total of 36,091 students. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
