A College Degree Built Every Child Deserves a Home on a Mountain of Debt · 2019-02-27 · student...

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Page 3 / McPherson County Herald / Wednesday, February 27 / 2019

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A College Degree Built on a Mountain of DebtBy Sen. John Thune

There’s no doubt studentswho decide to pursue highereducation at one of the manyuniversities and collegesthroughout the United Statesare making a significantinvestment in their future, buta vast majority of them end uptrading their cap and gown fora mountain of debt anduncertainty. In fact, 70percent of American collegegraduates leave school with a“significant amount of loans,”which total nearly $1.5 trillioncollectively, according to a2018 CNBC report.

According to the same report, Americans aregraduating with an averagedebt that’s comparable to a 10percent down payment on a$370,000 home or the cost of anew Tesla Model 3. Theaverage debt held bygraduates is equivalent toroughly two-thirds of SouthDakota’s median householdincome for an entire year.

I’m not suggesting thatgetting a college degree isn’tworth it, but I am saying thatthe debt it potentially createscan present a hurdle for manygraduates and new job-seekerswhile many of them arefinding out for the first timewhat life is like on their own –paying for rent, groceries, andutilities, or maybe making acar payment, all while tryingto ensure they have enoughleft over in their budget fortheir monthly student loanpayments.

Students who graduate fromAmerican universities andcolleges are a valuablecommodity, which is why Irecently introduced thebipartisan EmployerParticipation in RepaymentAct with several of my Senatecolleagues, including Sen.

Mike Rounds, which wouldcreate a win-win scenario forgraduates and employers, andit could also help incentivizejob-seekers to keep theirtalent here in the UnitedStates.

I joined Sen. Mark Warner(D-Va.) in leading this effortthat would give employers theoption to participate in aprogram that would allowthem to contribute up to$5,250 each year (tax-free) tohelp pay down an employee’sstudent loan debt. There’s anobvious benefit for graduates,but it also gives employers anew tool and benefit option toattract or retain top-leveltalent. If our bill became law,the employer could eithermake a payment directly to anemployee or send it to astudent loan lender, cuttingout the middle man.

“Expanding employereducation assistance helpsaddress the skills gap, whichis holding back both workersand employers. Whenemployers are able to helpworkers pay off student debt,more people will haveconfidence to pursue highereducation and be betterprepared to fill high-skilledfields,” said Johnny C. TaylorJr., president and CEO of theSociety for Human ResourceManagement, whichhighlights the many layers ofsupport our bill enjoys.

While passing this bipartisanlegislation wouldn’t be a silverbullet with respect to thegrowing concerns over studentloan debt and the rising cost oftuition in America, it wouldcertainly help ease some of thepain.

Several of my Senatecolleagues, including thechairman of the committeethat oversees education, whoalso happened to lead the U.S.Department of Education inthe 1990s, are working onsome ideas to address thebroader issue of lowering theoverall cost of education. Istand ready to work withthem to find fiscallyresponsible policies that canhelp graduates overcome thisdebt burden and enter theworkforce in a stronger, morecertain position.

Every Child Deserves a HomeBy Governor Kristi Noem

Foster care is an issue I’vecared about for a long time.Growing up, I had a fosterbrother who made a bigimpact on my family andtaught my siblings and mea different kind of love,compassion, and strength Idon’t know if I would haveotherwise understood. Welearned that family is moreabout what’s in your heartthan in your bloodstream. Andthose lessons have shapedhow I live my life and howI now lead South Dakota.

This year, I’ve committed tousing my microphone and myinfluence to educate peopleabout the need for more fosterfamilies. The next generationof South Dakotans will notthrive if they don’t have ahome. A place to grow up. Afamily to love them.

Since I began highlightingthe needs of our foster system,I’ve had the opportunity tohear dozens of stories frompeople who’ve been deeplyimpacted by foster care. Justthis week, I learned about afamily in Aberdeen whoadopted a sibling set of fivekiddos on Valentine’s Day.These kids had been in thefoster system for more thanthree years. With traumaticbackgrounds, their newlyformed family has had tonavigate some difficultsituations, but as their dadsaid, “Family is always worthit.” Their family now has amembership of 14 – withseven kids adopted throughthe foster system. They’re abeautiful mosaic ofbackgrounds, cultures, andmost importantly, love.Another young woman fromRapid City told me about herfamily. In the last 10 years,she’s had 24 foster brothersand sisters. She said thiswhen she talked about fostercare: “Being a foster familyisn’t about feeling good aboutyourself. It’s about plantingseeds of love in kids. It’s aboutshowing them what a family islike and what love feels like.It’s not an easy path, but it isso worth it.”

I want more kids in fostercare to have testimonies andfamilies like these. I want ourstate to be an example ofstrong families who helpstruggling families to create abetter future.

But there’s a lot of work todo. Right now in our

state, 80 kids are waiting forfamilies to adopt them. Intotal, 924 children are infoster care.

Sadly, life within the fostercare system is difficult formany. More than half of kidsin foster care experience atleast seven school changeswhile in the child welfaresystem. The instability has atremendous impact on theireducation, health, andoutlook. The good news is thatfoster kids who are in stablehomes are much more likely tograduate from high school, goto college, and have asuccessful future.

While the staff at theDepartment of Social Servicescan raise awareness about theneed, get the facts out, anddebunk some of the mythspeople may believe, they can’tput children in a home if noone is willing to provideone. There’s a significantneed.

If you’re interested ininfluencing the nextgeneration through fostercare, I encourage you to visitfosterone.sd.gov where youcan learn more, ask questions,and start the process ofbecoming a foster family. Andif you are a foster family, I’dlove to hear your story. Pleaseconsider sharing your journeywith me at GovernorNoem@state.sd.us.

I’m confident that SouthDakota can be a leader to ournation in how we prioritizefamilies and help kids who arethe most vulnerable. Becauseevery child deserves love, andevery child deserves a home.

NOTICE OF MEETING OFLOCAL REVIEW BOARD

SDCL 10-11-13NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVENThat the governing body, sitting

as a Review Board of the City ofLeola, Leola Township,McPherson County, SouthDakota, will meet at the LeolaMunicipal Building in the CouncilRoom in said taxing jurisdictionon MONDAY, the 18th day ofMarch 2019, (being the 3rdMonday in March) for the purposeof reviewing and correcting theassessments of said taxing districtfor the year, 2019.

All persons consideringthemselves aggrieved by saidassessment are required to notifythe clerk of the local board inwriting no later than Thursday,March 14th, 2019.Dated this 20th day of February2019.Candice Kappes, Leola CityFinance OfficerLocal Review Board Clerk

“This institution is an equalopportunity provider, andemployer.”

Published twice at theapproximate cost of $20.77.

27*6

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