Bill revising minor school boundary changes advances

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - The House Education Committee approved a measure revising minor, school district boundary changes.

Bill sponsor Senator Deb Peters of Hartford says the bill puts boundary changes back into the hands of school districts and the legislature.

Peters says the Brandon School District has done a real good job of working with the Sioux Falls School District.  She adds that a couple of the other districts work well with Sioux Falls too. However, she says "there's a lot of monkeying around going on in the western part of Sioux Falls."    

The bill removes the provision that allows for boundary changes to be petitioned and puts the decision in the hands of school districts.

Peters says the bill does not restrict a school district's ability to re-organize.  Iowa does not allow any changes in school district boundaries under any circumstances.