The state's four technical institutes would also see a bump in their funding if House Bill 1182 makes it through the Senate.
Southeast Technical Institute in Sioux Falls is just one of four tech schools across the state. Its problems are similar to what school districts are facing: Paying teachers.
School President Jeff Holcomb says at a technical institute, instructors must have hands-on experience in the field. They must also be able to connect with students. He says finding and keeping industry professionals in education can be tough, considering current salaries.
"If the field is paying much more than what our salaries are, there's the opportunity for those individuals to leave us and go back to the industry," Holcomb said. "We want every individual to have the best opportunity, but it leaves us with the challenge of filling that position."
House Bill 1182 could provide the possibility of expansion as well. Holcomb says STI has one teacher for about every 28 students. He'd like to see that extra money go beyond salary increases.
"In many respects, we have to look at this as how do we completely staff our programs and look at adding people, too, or adding technicians to our programs," Holcomb said.
Adding staff and programs could also bring in more students. Holcomb says going forward STI wants to stay competitive with industry salaries and continue to provide its students with the best hands on instructors.
"That process of expanding and providing for more students will require more teachers and we certainly want to do that with the best quality and the best salaries possible," Holcomb said.
Lake Area Technical in Watertown, Western Dakota Technical in Rapid City, and Mitchell Technical are also among the list of technical institutes in South Dakota.
Southeast Technical Institute in Sioux Falls is just one of four tech schools across the state. Its problems are similar to what school districts are facing: Paying teachers.
School President Jeff Holcomb says at a technical institute, instructors must have hands-on experience in the field. They must also be able to connect with students. He says finding and keeping industry professionals in education can be tough, considering current salaries.
"If the field is paying much more than what our salaries are, there's the opportunity for those individuals to leave us and go back to the industry," Holcomb said. "We want every individual to have the best opportunity, but it leaves us with the challenge of filling that position."
House Bill 1182 could provide the possibility of expansion as well. Holcomb says STI has one teacher for about every 28 students. He'd like to see that extra money go beyond salary increases.
"In many respects, we have to look at this as how do we completely staff our programs and look at adding people, too, or adding technicians to our programs," Holcomb said.
Adding staff and programs could also bring in more students. Holcomb says going forward STI wants to stay competitive with industry salaries and continue to provide its students with the best hands on instructors.
"That process of expanding and providing for more students will require more teachers and we certainly want to do that with the best quality and the best salaries possible," Holcomb said.
Lake Area Technical in Watertown, Western Dakota Technical in Rapid City, and Mitchell Technical are also among the list of technical institutes in South Dakota.