LETTER: Teachers deserve to know reason for their dismissal

Talk about it

To the Editor:

It has been 13 years since I have retired from the Rapid City School District. However, I still have a heart for education. This is why the erroneous information from Gov. Daugaard’s office and perpetuated by the news media bothers me.

The dictionary defines tenure as the status of permanent position that is granted to an employee, such as a teacher or civil servant. Tenure is defined as a very poor system as there is no vehicle in place for dismissal. South Dakota does not have tenure, but continuing contract. A teacher must be notified by April 14 if they are not going to be rehired. They must be evaluated and given a reason for dismissal. Teachers can be terminated after April 15 for reasons listed in law — such as drugs, criminal activity, insubordination, etc. Teachers have been terminated after their probationary period for a variety of reasons.

I do not understand why anyone would find fault with this system. I think all people deserve the right to be given a reason for termination.

Please vote no on Referred Law 16.

IM 15 would improve quality of life for South Dakotans

To the Editor:

I’m writing in regard to an earlier submission by Mike Held and Shawn Lyons. There were flawed opinions given in their article. The state sales tax was raised in 1965 by 50 percent, as well as 33 percent in 1969. To call a 25 percent increase the largest in state history is mistaken.

The submission also points out IM 15 is a “defective” idea for reasons including $48 million in unexpected revenue. Oddly enough, none of the surplus was set aside for either program.

Held and Lyons also point out the IM “circumvents the Legislature.” When South Dakota’s constitution was written, the provision of initiated measures was included to prevent citizens’ voices from being ignored. This measure was put on the ballot because ten percent of South Dakotans believe K-12 education and Medicaid funding is inadequate. The measure is the message citizens are sending to legislators and the governor who refuse to listen.

Education should be the state’s No. 1 priority. This is the biggest achievement one can hold. Additional funding to education and Medicaid will increase the quality of life in South Dakota drastically. Why would anyone deny a better quality of life for themselves by voting no on IM 15?

Rachelle Norberg

Burke

South Dakota can’t afford IM 15’s economic effects

To the Editor:

As South Dakota copes with the worst drought in decades, and as our nation faces an out-of-control federal budget, this is not the time to raise taxes by an extra $180 million for the sole benefit of two special interest groups.

Pulling $180 million out of South Dakota’s economy will lower the economic engine’s energy needed to push our normal tax receipts higher for all and very well could cause a recession.

Initiated Measure 15 on the November ballot would boost the state sales tax by 25 percent and give the money to only two entities in educating and taking care of people. Higher education, tech schools, Department. of Education, state hospitals, Department of Social Services, DHS, DOH, SVH and TANF would be left out of the money loop. That is not how we roll here in South Dakota.

Measure 15 is the wrong idea at the wrong time.

Please join me in voting against No. 15.

Charlie Hoffman

District 23 representative

Eureka

Tags: election 2012, opinion, letters, education, state