Candidate for State House Stace Nelson on school consolidation.

U.S. Marine Corps veteran Stace Nelson is a candidate for South Dakota State House District 25. I submitted a question, this one on HB1182, which would make force all school districts to have at least 190 students enrolled, or be forced to merge. The following is Mr. Nelson's response.

Question 1: Last session a bill was introduced HB1182 to consolidate school districts under 190 students. What is your position on school size?

Thanks,

Thad Wasson

Thad,
My grandma, Freda Nelson, was a “one room” schoolteacher over near Lake Andes. That school house was on the front part of their farm, I have some of the books that they once used, and that building will forever be in my memories. I imagine that she would be shaking her head in wonderment and disgust that we have lost our way here in South Dakota. Even with the advent of the most miraculous of technology, we are closing schools and devastating small communities? I do not support our state mandating schools close/consolidate. I believe that the future of small schools should be left in the hands of the community. That being said, these communities need to understand that if they want to keep their schools open then they need to think outside of the box and run these schools only with the funds appropriated for their student population. Our state cannot ensure a Roosevelt/Mitchell/Baltic/etc. high school experience to every child in rural South Dakota; however, with the availability of video conferencing and computer technology our small schools should be given the chance to adapt their teaching environments so these small communities do not lose their schools or heritage.

Respectfully,

Stace Nelson
District 25 Republican Candidate for South Dakota House of Representatives
24739 420th Ave.
Fulton, SD 57340-8004
Cell: (605) 770-7461
Tel: (605) 996-0882
WWW.StaceNelson.Com

This answer reveals a concern to keep our rural communities alive and viable for future generations. South Dakota is more than I90, Sioux Falls and Rapid City. Our leaders must always be on guard for the entire state, and consolidation is not the wise course.

Thanks Stace and good luck!