One major reason the South Dakota legislature passed a half cent sales tax increase last year was to help school districts attract and keep teachers.
The tax pays for major increases in teacher pay for most districts.
South Dakota Education Association President Mary McCorkle says the added pay help convince some teachers to put off retirement…..

McCorkle says that helped school districts in filling they openings they did have…..

McCorkle says the mentoring portion of the bill has also been a big help in hanging on to those teachers…..

The tax bill pushed average teacher pay to about forty eight thousand dollars a year.