School boundary bill moves to South Dakota Senate

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - The Senate Education Committee today advanced a bill revising the procedure to change school district boundaries.

Mark Lee with the Chamber of Commerce says the bill is aimed at the Sioux Falls School District. Lee says it's a response to the perception that Sioux Falls is gobbling up all the school property.  He says that's not an accurate picture adding that the city's growth is what's spurring the school district's boundaries.               

Gerry Kaufman says the Associated School Boards of South Dakota endorses the measure. Kaufman says it wiil limit or remove the right of an individual land owner to initiate a petitioning of transfer of a minor boundary change.           

The bill calls for an exchange of equally valued land in any boundary changes.  State Senator Deb Peters (R-Hartford) introduced the measure.  Peters chaired a task force that was formed after several school district disputes arose in the Sioux Empire.  Sioux Falls administrators have said they want more flexibility than the bill allows

The committee voted unanimously to send the bill to the Senate.