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'CONDE OF THE CONGRESS' SIDES WITH SMALL SCHOOLS; STATE'S LONE U.S. HOUSE MEMBER SUPPORTS KEEPING COUNTERPART FROM CLOSING
February 21, 2008 | Scott Waltman, Aberdeen American News

CONDE --- Small-town schools have a special spot in Stephanie Herseth Sandlin's heart.

The Democratic member of the U.S. House said she went to elementary school in Columbia with nine classmates. So, she told about 35 students in Conde on Wednesday, she's not happy it appears the school will be forced to close.

Last year, the state Legislature approved a 100-student minimum for South Dakota school districts. This year, a bill that would have exempted school districts that get less than $20,000 in annual state aid was defeated.

Lawmakers in Pierre who are unwilling to make such exceptions are taking the decision away from local leaders and voters and are not being fair, Herseth Sandlin said. People in Bristol and Hecla and other local districts have voted to merge with other schools. That isn't the case with Conde, she said.

Conde officials said Wednesday that they will receive $9,000 in state aid this year and got $15,000 last year. It's been more than 20 years since the school has received significant state aid, they said.

A pipeline and peaking station provide the school district with more property taxes than most schools have. That's why it needs so little state aid.

Herseth Sandlin complimented Conde students who went to Pierre in January and testified to keep their school open and expressed their opinions in newspapers.
Despite the effort, it looks like the school will be forced to close unless supporters can find more votes in Pierre.

There are plenty of studies that show the benefits of small schools, Herseth Sandlin said. Students from smaller schools do better in college, yet, she said, some state legislators have been unwilling to invest in the state's future by failing to support Conde school.

Herseth Sandlin also answer questions covering a wide range of topics:

• Explaining that she is only one of 435 members in the U.S. House, she said, "I sort of feel like the Conde of the Congress."
  Herseth Sandlin said she has 18 full-time and two part-time staffers in Washington and South Dakota.
• As one of South Dakota's superdelegates to the Democratic National Convention, she said she's still undecided on whether she'll support Hilary Clinton or Barack Obama.
  An early supporter of John Edwards, who dropped out of the race, Herseth Sandlin said she will back whichever candidate is willing to prioritize South Dakota's needs and work with her.
• It's too soon to know whether Raul Castro, the new Cuban president, will implement democratic reforms in the country, but such changes eventually will take hold in the Cuba, she said.
  "It's just a matter of time," Herseth Sandlin said.
  She said she's in favor of loosening trade restrictions with Cuba. Doing so would provide another market for South Dakota's ag products, she said.
• Students need to take an interest in the political process and what's going on in the world, Herseth Sandlin said. If more young people watch "American Idol" and text in a vote for their favorite performer than vote in elections, they are letting the government have too much power and get too big, she said.
• The country's inability to develop sources of fuel and energy that don't rely on oil and gas is the biggest factor of the current economic slump, she said.
  Conde senior Alyssa Taylor said she asked Herseth Sandlin about the nation's energy policy after Wednesday's speech. Taylor said the two women agree that increasing ethanol use and the availability of hybrid vehicles would be a good thing.
  

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