Recently South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard put his support behind Amendment R.

"It is a matter of people not understanding the constitution hasn't been updated in so many years." Dr. Ann Bolman, President of WDT said.

Try about 30 years, that's when most states established their technical institutes as separate entities, South Dakota is working on catching up.

South dakota's four tech schools are part of the school districts they are located in and the state department of education.

"It ( Amendment R ) would give the legislature the authority to segregate the governing of tech schools away from the K through 12 system," Governor Daugaard said, "or away from the university system and have the governors of the tech schools at the state level which exists today but is mixed in with the k through 12 system."

"There is so much potential our part of the state if people understand the power behind having the technical colleges identified in the state constitution." Bolman said, "It really lends authority and legitimacy to our endeavor."

Governor Daugaard says Amendment R would enable the legislature to help tech schools focus more on jobs and programs.

"This is a real key historic moment in south dakota's higher education history right now, what we are getting ready to potentially pass." Bolman said, "It really will change the face of what we can do as tech colleges in South Dakota.

Amendment R passed the Senate unanimously and the House with only one vote against it. It will be near the top of the ballot this November.