Argus Leader leaves out rest of story

The Argus Leader has a report on the school lawsuit that coveres the testimony of Don Kirkegaard:

All schools in South Dakota need more money, a state Board of Education member testified Friday in a trial about the adequacy of state aid to education.

Still, Donald Kirkegaard, who also is superintendent of the Britton-Hecla school, said that his own district hasn't been forced to make cuts because of a lack of money and that he thinks students there are receiving a good education.

"I think all public education in South Dakota is short of funds," Kirkegaard told Scott Abdallah, lawyer for a group of parents and students who are challenging South Dakota's school aid system.

The plaintiffs say funding is so inadequate that it violates the state constitution. The state disagrees, saying that test scores and graduation rates show students are successful.

Kirkegaard's testimony came at the end of the first week of a trial that could last six weeks.

Another school superintendent, Gary Leighton of Florence, said later Friday that he thinks his district is failing to give some students an adequate education. He was the final witness of the first week.

"Are you failing the students in Florence?" asked Richard Williams of state Attorney General Larry Long's office.

"We're not preparing them adequately," Leighton said.

"Are you failing them?" Williams pressed.

"Some of them, yes," Leighton said.

The superintendent also said under questioning from Williams that Florence hasn't had a graduate in the past five years who required remedial courses at one of the public universities.

But this Chet Brokaw report provides the rest of Kirkegaard’s testimony:

A member of the state Board of education has testified in a lawsuit over school funding that South Dakota school districts need more state financial aid.

Don Kirkegaard, who is also superintendent in the Britton-Hecla School District, says a lack of money makes it particularly difficult for some school districts to hire and keep quality teachers.

Kirkegaard says he has modified his views about the Florence School District after saying a year ago he would not send his kids to that school. He says he has since learned that Florence offers all required courses.

Sounds like the lack of quality education argument is being back-pedaled. Why did the Argus Leader leave that point out?