Secretary’s Column
by Dr. Rick Melmer, Secretary
South Dakota Department of Education

MANY REASONS TO BE THANKFUL

In my new position, I have a unique opportunity to learn about educational systems from all around the country.  We certainly have challenges in South Dakota that need to be addressed.  Sometimes we tend to believe that our issues are as bad as or worse than other states’ issues.  I took some time to pull information from other states regarding some of the budget cuts that are being made.  This information is clearly the “tip of the iceberg” but certainly an indication that times are tough all over.  The purpose of this information isn’t to depress you, but rather to encourage you during the upcoming budget season that our struggles seem small compared to other states around the country.

Alabama:  The state plans to lay off 4,000 teachers and 2,000 support personnel in the spring, after laying off 2,000 teachers in the previous three years. 

California:  An estimated 3,800 experienced teachers did not return to classrooms statewide—not including the less-experienced temporary teachers who were not asked back—and nearly 9,000 secretaries, bus drivers, clerks, and other non-teaching employees across the state have also lost their jobs. More than 80,000 portable classrooms are being used by schools around the state.  The first state in the nation to require physical education in public schools now has extremely overcrowded gym classes, with an official average of 43 students per class.

Colorado:   The number of children served dropped by nearly 1,900 this school year, and the Denver public school system went from funding 56 full-day kindergarten classrooms to 14.

Florida:  The state has cut the amount of learning that a student needs to receive a high-school diploma in order to keep class sizes from increasing; students can now graduate by earning the bare minimum of 18 credits in three years rather than 24 credits in four years.

Illinois:  School districts across the state laid off thousands of teachers and support staff, leaving class sizes of nearly 40 students in some schools. 

Iowa:  Well over half of Iowa’s school districts have already laid off teachers or support staff, increased class sizes, or cut back or delayed purchases of textbooks, materials, supplies, and technology.  Over the past few years, the average class size in Des Moines public schools has grown from 25 to 38 students.

Michigan:  Across the state, funding for gifted and talented students and services was slashed by a whopping 95 percent, and some districts are asking parents to pay fees to participate.

Minnesota:  The state recently eliminated physical education as a graduation requirement.

Utah:  The state now has the largest class sizes in the nation, ranks 50th in per-pupil spending, and is facing up to 100,000 new students over the next 10 years.