Legislators Debate Education Funding and Local Control at Watertown Cracker barrel

Описание: Northeast Radio SD News - Watertown, SD - Area legislators faced a vocal crowd on Saturday morning during the Watertown Area Chamber of Commerce Legislative Crackerbarrel, where the tension between state mandates and local control dominated the discussion. The event, live-streamed by Northeast Radio SD, featured a six-member panel from Districts 4 and 5 addressing topics ranging from cell phone bans to controversial curriculum requirements.
The panel included Senator Stephanie Sauder (D4), Representative Kent Roe (D4), Representative Dylan Jordan (D4), Senator Glen Vilhauer (D5), Representative Matt Roby (D5), and Representative Josephine Garcia (D5).
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The Tug-of-War Over Local Control
The forum opened with a poignant question from a constituent regarding how lawmakers determine when the state should intervene in local affairs versus deferring to local boards. The question highlighted two contrasting education bills: a proposed statewide ban on cell phones in schools and House Bill 1313, which mandates schools show a specific video on neonatal development.
Senator Stephanie Sauder voiced strong support for local autonomy, particularly regarding cell phone policies. “Over 95% of our schools right now have something in their policy; it is working for them,” Sauder said, noting she voted against a state-level ban. “Watertown school is different than Waverly school, which is different than Hamlin.”
However, the consensus fractured over HB 1313. While Representatives Josephine Garcia and Dylan Jordan defended the neonatal video requirement as a “science-based” addition to the curriculum, others were more skeptical. Representative Kent Roe expressed concern over state overreach, saying, “There’s a real desire to overstep our bounds in Pierre... we need to respect the school boards.”
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Education Funding: “White Knights” or Underfunders?
Steve O’Brien, a 38-year veteran teacher at Watertown High School, challenged the panel on the state’s constitutional promise to fund public education. He noted that, despite past progress, the Governor’s current budget proposes a 0% increase for schools.
Senator Glen Vilhauer, who sits on the Appropriations Committee, acknowledged the frustration but noted that state revenue projections are tight. “The Governor was a little bit premature in what he said... as appropriators, we’d like to do something,” Vilhauer stated, suggesting a 1% increase might be more realistic than the traditionally sought 3%.
Representative Matt Roby echoed this cautiously optimistic sentiment, suggesting there is a “very good chance” for at least a 1% increase for the “Big Three” (education, state employees, and community service providers).
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Defining “Conservative” and Listening to the People
The most heated moment of the morning came when a registered Republican constituent accused the six-member GOP panel of failing to cast “conservative” votes.
Representative Dylan Jordan responded by defining his stance as a “constitutional conservative,” aimed at preserving the founding documents rather than adhering to a single party line. Representative Kent Roe added that representing 25,000 diverse constituents makes it impossible to please everyone. “I get constantly hammered because I tend to not obey the party line,” Roe said. “We have to reflect everyone across the board.”
Representative Josephine Garcia noted that, in her second year in the legislature, she has learned the necessity of compromise. “The second year, the light goes on, and you really see what is happening... it takes courage to take constructive criticism from those that really don’t like what you’re doing.”
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Legislative Highlights
• HB 1202 (Lake Area Tech Building): Lawmakers discussed an appropriation of approximately $5.2 million in one-time state funds for a new trade center at Lake Area Technical College. The facility would house H-VAC and refrigeration programs to meet workforce demands.
• SB 98 (Crypto Regulation): Legislators signaled support for a bill aimed at regulating cryptocurrency kiosks to protect consumers from fraud, comparing the oversight to that of standard ATMs.
• HB 1265 (Avian Salvage): A “feel-good” bill inspired by 19-year-old Madison Grimm of Wallace was discussed, which would allow Game, Fish, and Parks to issue permits for salvaging eggs (such as pheasant eggs) disturbed by farming equipment.