Avoiding consolidation bill OK’d in House of Representatives

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PIERRE — A measure that would allow small school districts to avoid forced consolidation by accepting smaller amounts of state financial aid was approved 56-11 Thursday in the state House of Representatives.

The proposal, sponsored by Rep. Charlie Hoffman, R-Eureka, would apply to districts with enrollments below 100 students. Hoffman wants to allow a two-year grace period and then start penalizing the districts financially. A district with 99 students would get 99 percent of its per-student allocation, a district with 80 students would get 80 percent, and so forth.

No one spoke against HB 1213, which now heads to the Senate.

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