SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - A State House Committee today addressed a school attendance issue between the Chester and Madison School Districts and students of the Graceville Huteritte Colony.
Diane Miller with the Large School Group says Chester teaches students on the Colony which sits in the Madison School District.
Miller says the school is not recognized by the Education Department as an attendance center because it's all open enrolled kids. She says it's a building where Graceville Colony students are going.
Lawyer Chris Jung says while the bill is an attempt to codify the unusual situation he doesn’t see a solution. Jung says under this agreement, it would require Chester and Madison to work together. He says "how in the world" would that ever happen. He also wonders who is the victim in all of this but Graceville Colony.
The bill requires the two school boards to enter a joint powers agreement when one board wants to establish an attendance center.
Under the current conditions, the Madison School District still gets the Colony's share of property taxes. The per student allocation goes to the Chester School District.