SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – A year ago, the shop class at O’Gorman High School was discontinued because of low student enrollment and no instructor. The classroom where kids used to learn the basics of carpentry and construction was turned into storage, but thanks to generous support from donors and grant money, the shop class is now back up and running….
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Gov. Kim Reynolds plans to sign education funding bills sent to her last week by lawmakers providing a 2 percent increase in state per-pupil funding for the budget year beginning in July. Reynolds has scheduled a bill signing event for Tuesday morning at the Iowa Capitol. The measures would boost per-pupil support from the state…
PIERRE, S.D. (AP) – A measure that would require South Dakota high school students to pass a civics test to graduate is headed to the Senate. The House voted 38-31 Thursday for the bill. It would mandate that high school students score at least 70 percent to get a diploma. The exam would include 10 questions from the U.S. citizenship…
ESTHERVILLE, IA – Sometimes when snow falls, so do students grades. One district in Northwest Iowa isn’t letting students fall behind, despite mother nature’s greatest efforts. KDLT News Today went to Estherville to find out more on the ‘virtual snow day’ that’s taken over the school system. Categories: Education, KDLT News Today, KDLT News Today Interviews, Local News,…
WASHINGTON – Top executives of T-Mobile and Sprint are taking the case for their 26.5 billion merger to Congress, arguing that joining their companies won’t hurt competition or jack up prices for wireless service. They could face skepticism at a hearing Wednesday. The deal, which must win approval from federal regulators, would combine the nation’s third- and fourth-largest wireless companies,…
PIERRE, S.D. (AP) – South Dakota representatives have approved a bill to prohibit public school instruction about gender dysphoria through seventh grade. The House voted 39-30 Tuesday to send the bill to the state Senate. Republican Rep. Tom Pischke, the sponsor, says the intent of the measure is to make sure that public schools aren’t “teaching and confusing our young…
PIERRE, S.D. (AP) – A South Dakota Senate panel has approved a bill that would bar public universities and technical schools from restricting people’s ability to carry guns on campus. The Judiciary Committee voted 4-3 Tuesday to advance the bill to the floor. Jordan Mason, political director at South Dakota Gun Owners, says the bill would give students a “fighting…
HARRISBURG, S.D. – School officials in Harrisburg are one step closer to finding a new superintendent. The district is looking to replace Superintendent Jim Holbeck who is planning to retire at the end of the school year. Holbeck has been with the district for about 12 years. 33 applications have been submitted for the position, with 11 of the candidates…
ST. PAUL, Minn. – New Gov. Tim Walz won’t release his first budget until Feb. 19 but some elements of his agenda for rural Minnesota are already emerging. Walz is Minnesota’s first governor from greater Minnesota since Rudy Perpich left office in 1991. The Democratic former congressman from Mankato has provided some glimpses recently about his plans for the parts…
PIERRE, S.D. (AP) – South Dakota lawmakers plan to take up bills to create a reporter shield law, allow sports betting in Deadwood and ban teaching about gender identity in elementary and middle schools. The Legislature returns Tuesday. A House committee plans to debate a bill Wednesday that would give protections to journalists who refuse to disclose information or sources….
PIERRE, S.D. – Less than a week after a bill that would have put restrictions on transgender student athletes failed the South Dakota senate, a similar bill has been introduced in the state house. House bill 12-25 was brought fourth Wednesday by Representative Lee Qualm. The bill would require students to abide by the “sexual identity” printed on their birth…
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — The bitter cold is impacting area schools. Like many school districts Sioux Falls has closed schools for Wednesday. That announcement was made Tuesday afternoon. Superintendent Dr. Brian Maher says he works with the National Weather Service when making the decision. He says one factor they look at is wind chill. Once it reaches negative 34 school…
South Dakota state legislators are just starting to wade through dozens of new bills introduced earlier this week. Among the proposed legislation catching the collective eye of our pundits – drivers licensing in another language, early childhood education and a committee to look at the tax exemptions offered in South Dakota. While these new bills have yet to be taken…
MILWAUKEE (AP) – Major universities in parts of the Midwest are shutting down because of the extreme cold blanketing the region. Arctic air dipping into the region sent temperatures plunging Tuesday, and even colder weather is expected Wednesday. Hundreds of public schools are closed from North Dakota to Michigan. The universities closed through Thursday include the University of Minnesota, the…
VERMILLION, S.D. – The University of South Dakota has canceled classes until 8 a.m. Thursday morning, due to the extreme cold weather. The University says online classes will resume as scheduled. Residence halls will remain open. Dining services will operate from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. for students living on campus. Students who live on campus should direct questions to…
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — We are getting our first look at what the new high school in Sioux Falls will look like. These initial renderings were presented to the Sioux Falls School Board Tuesday night. Board members officially approved Thomas Jefferson High School and Ben Reifel Middle School as the names of the new high school and new middle school. Board…
BROOKINGS, S.D. – (From SDSU) South Dakota State University will close its Brookings campus due to the predicted weather conditions that include extreme cold temperatures and a severe wind chill warning. The closing impacts SDSU’s main campus and all supporting research farms and offices in Brookings County. For example, SDSU’s Office of Admissions will be closed. The closure goes into…
A growing number of colleges and universities are postponing tuition payments and offering grants to students whose finances have been tied up by the government shutdown. Statewide college systems in New York, Connecticut and Nevada have agreed to delay payments for affected students. At least 20 other schools have made similar offers that sometimes include cash grants to cover living…
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – Briar Cliff University in Sioux City has announced a $2 million gift from the Sisters of St. Francis. The money will be used to establish an endowed chair in theology and support Briar Cliff in the recruitment and retention of faculty. The private college was founded in 1929 by a Roman Catholic Franciscan nun from…
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – There were 2,200 names submitted for two new school being built in the Sioux Falls School District. Thomas Jefferson and Ben Reifel are the two that made the cut. Thomas Jefferson High School will be the fourth public high school in the district, rounding out all the presidents on Mount Rushmore. The high school will be…
