Constitutional Amendment R passed last night by a narrow margin.
Amendment R recognizes technical institutes as legitimized post-secondary entities.
Proponents of the Amendment say it’s a step in the right direction for the economy. Opponents say they’re still concerned about the possible costs to taxpayers.
Before Amendment R passed, technical schools were governed by local school boards and the state Board of Education. Now, those same institutes could see a change in governance depending on the decision of the state legislature.
Greg Von Wald is a proponent of the amendment. He says the yes vote shows South Dakotans believe in workforce development. Von Wald says the amendment now gives technical institutes the same opportunities as other post-secondary schools.
“The legislature right now, today, could say you’re fine, just keep going forward, and would give us voice that we’re looking for and it would cost nothing. Alternatively, they could establish a small board, of volunteers to sit on that board and it would cost the state very, very little to have that board, so either way it is not going to be a significant cost at all to the state budget, or no costs at all to the state budget,” says Von Wald.
But opponents argue there’s no way to know the effects of the change until the legislature convenes. Representative Liz May voted against putting Amendment R on the ballot, citing funding as a concern.
“What I know about legislation is, it’s a wait and see, we don’t know that, we don’t what the cost is going to be associated with it and we also don’t know what the costs is going to be associated with it and we also don’t know where the funds are going to come to handle it,” says May.
May adds that transparency for taxpayers remains her key focus as the amendment moves forward.
