SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) The House Education Committee today sent to the full body a bill that would remove vocational technical institute instructors from collective bargaining.
Southeast educator Debra Hunking thinks everyone agrees that the technical institutes need adaptability, flexibility and highly trained faculty members.
Hunking says the current structure works well and encourages those needs by bringing everyone to the table. She says the half cent sales tax increase last year for teacher's wage hikes helps to address some of the faculty salary issues
The bill's author, House Speaker Mark Mickelson of Sioux Falls, says part of the reason Lake Area Technical is so successful is that there's no collective bargaining.
Mickelson asked the committee "where do you think the faculty's satisfaction is the highest? Lake Area Tech." He says the voice of the faculty is heard and administrators have the ability to pay differently.
The bill passed ten to four.