School districts across South Dakota are already doing the math on a new funding plan just passed by the legislature.
A bill raising the state sales tax a half cent passed the Senate and will be on the Governor’s desk. That will raise about one hundred million dollars a year, with about sixty million going to schools for higher teacher pay.

Dan Swartos, Superintendent at McCook Central in Salem, says their share depends on the final teacher student ratio…

Swartos says they plan to share the news money with all their staff…..

The funding depends on a student teacher ratio that ranges from twelve to fifteen to one, based on the size of a school.
Swartos says their district is right in the middle….

The bill contains an emergency clause, so will become effective as soon as the Governor signs it.