The South Dakota Legislature this year raised the state sales tax a half cent, with most of that new money going to school districts for teacher pay raises.
Mary McCorkle, President of the South Dakota Education Association, says they are getting good reports from around the state……

The raises were pushed in an effort to keep and attract teachers to state schools. McCorkle says that may be happening…..

McCorkle says student achievement was already improving before the new tax was approved…..

McCorkle says the raises were long overdue for many veteran teachers.