10 Broadcaster Press June 21, 2016 www.broadcasteronline.com New Conflicts Law Led to Resignation of State Appointee from Board of Ed BY BOB MERCER State Capitol Bureau PIERRE – Julie Mathiesen of Stugis resigned from the state Board of Education recently because of South Dakota’s new law requiring disclosures of possible financial conflicts. The law applies to members of state boards and commissions and to people who work in leadership posts in public education. Mathiesen is the first state appointee to step down before the new law takes effect July 1. She is director for the Technology In Education organization that assists schools throughout South Dakota. The Legislature approved the new conflicts law in response to the alleged financial crimes involving personnel for Mid Central Educational Cooperative at Platte and the GEAR UP program for Native American high school students. Criminal charges are pending against the cooperative’s former director, Dan Guericke of White Lake; the GEAR UP’s program’s former director, Stacy Phelps of Rapid City; and a former assistant business manager, Stephanie Hubers of Geddes. State boards and commissions specifically covered by the new law have received briefings in recent months about its effects and the waiver process that is allowed. Gov. Dennis Daugaard originally appointed Mathiesen to the state board in 2011 in part because of her work at TIE and her experience as a high school teacher in art and biology. He later reappointed her to another term. Mathiesen cited the new law in the letter of resignation she submitted “with regret” to the governor. “I stand by my belief that my position on the BOE is not in conflict with my work in education because the board does not approve or oversee contracts,” she wrote. “However, recent legislative action and the associated reporting measures will create a situation that could be distracting to the work of BOE as well as to my employer,” she continued. Mathiesen made clear the state board reaches policy decisions and none of the financial information affecting her has been secret. “I’m a proponent of open government and transparency and all the state contracts associated with my employer, which is a political subdivision of the state, are readily available on open.sd.gov,” she wrote. “In addition to contracts with the state, my employer frequently engages in contracts to support professional learning in school districts, which are also political subdivisions of the state.” Last year, after the six members of the Scott and Nicole Westerhuis family were shot to death at their home, the governor accepted the resignation of Phelps from the state board. Phelps originally was appointed to the board by then-Gov. Mike Rounds and Daugaard reappointed Phelps in 2011 at the same time he chose Mathiesen for the board. Daugaard said Phelps’ continued service on the board could appear to be a conflict. That was before state Attorney General Marty Jackley filed criminal charges against Phelps, Guericke and Hubers. Scott and Nicole Westerhuis were the business manager and an assistant business manger for Mid Central. They also worked directly with Phelps in several other businesses they formed together and for two non-profit organizations that handled GEAR UP funding. Jackley said the state investigation into the deaths indicated Scott Westerhuis shot to death his wife and their four children before lighting their house on fire and shooting himself. The Westerhuis couple is believed to have funneled many thousands of dollars away from GEAR UP. The financial investigation is continuing. The Westerhuis deaths came less than 24 hours after state Education Secretary Melody Schopp notified Guericke she wasn’t renewing the GEAR UP management contract with Mid Central. A state audit previously determined Schopp’s department didn’t adequately supervise spending under the GEAR UP contract. Two of the people specifically identified in the audit for failing to document work were Rick Melmer, a former state secretary of education, and Keith Moore, a former head of the state office of Indian education and a former director for the federal Bureau of Indian Education. The cooperative’s board has since voted to shut down the organization in 2017. To replace Mathiesen, Daugaard appointed Kay Schallenkamp of Spearfish. She retired as president of Black Hills State University. “The governor understood Julie’s decision, because the new law would be very complicated to comply with in her situation, even without any direct conflicts,” said Tony Venhuizen, the governor’s chief of staff who specifically oversees the state Department of Education. “He was sorry to see her resign, however, because she is an education leader in this state and has been an excellent board member,” Venhuizen said. Mathiesen resigned just months before her term would have expired Dec. 31, 2016. Schallenkamp is appointed to serve the remainder of that term. Two other board members’ terms expire Dec. 31, 2016. One is Kelly Duncan of Aberdeen, who is dean of education at Northern State University. Her consulting business previously received contracts through Mid Central and participated in a paid review of the GEAR UP program during the past year. The other is Scott Herman of Mission, a Rosebud Sioux Tribe leader whom the governor appointed to fill the vacancy left by Phelps’ resignation in 2015. The board meets Monday morning in Pierre. An Invitation to the Governor’s Mansion By Gov. Dennis Daugaard: Linda and I are very fortunate these days. We live in a big home on Capitol Lake where we have a great view of the Capitol Building. My place of employment is only a short walk away and, except when hundreds of geese arrive for the winter, our neighborhood is nice and quiet. Some of South Dakota’s former governors weren’t quite as lucky. When Pierre was named as the state Capitol, there was no Governor’s residence. Instead, governors received a housing allowance of $75 per month. In 1925 the Legislature approved the purchase of a small yellow cottage on the eastern shore of Capitol Lake. In 1936, Gov. Tom Berry thought it was time to make improvements to the Governor’s residence. State funds were limited at the time because of the Great Depression, so South Dakota accepted help from the Works Progress Administration (WPA) to construct a new home. From 1937 until 2003, governors lived in that home built by the WPA. It was a 57 x 97 foot, two-story house made with native brick, lumber and concrete. By the time Gov. Mike Rounds came into office, the residence was in rough shape. The wiring was outdated, the plumbing leaked and dry rot had weakened the walls. One night, the Rounds family was preparing to host an evening event. Just before the guests arrived, as someone was upstairs taking a shower, water started pouring through one of the light fixtures. It was time for a new Governor’s Mansion. The new Governor’s Mansion where Linda and I now reside was completed in the summer of 2005. It was funded entirely through private donations. Thousands of South Dakotans and numerous businesses from across the state donated money and materials to make this mansion possible. The mansion is approximately 14,000 square feet and is located in the precise location of the previous Governor’s Mansion. One-third of the mansion serves as the private residence for the governor and their family. Two-thirds of the building is the public area where large groups can be hosted. This summer my wife Linda and I are once again opening your Governor’s Mansion for public tours. The 45-minute tours begin at 1 p.m. Central Time on Wednesdays and they are conducted by the First Lady and volunteers. There is no charge for the tours, but you must reserve tickets in advance. June is already booked up, but there are still openings for tours in July and August. Reserve tickets by calling the Pierre Area Chamber of Commerce at 605-224-7361. Linda and I are honored to stay in such a beautiful home. We know the Governor’s Mansion belongs to the people of South Dakota and we want South Dakotans to be able to experience it for themselves. 6 3 ????3???3???36???????  3 ???3?37??????34?3?3???35??????????3?????3???????? bp Since 1934 Broadcaster Press 201 W. Cherry, Vermillion 605-624-4429 Yankton Slumberland Only! The More You Buy... Day Sale The More You Save! 3 Friday, Saturday, Sunday Spend $499-$119 8 June 24th ~ 26th Save e Additional! Fre r y! $100 ve sh eli Value D 9 $6 20 %OF All F Acces s In Stoories ck! 5% Ca scount* Di d Spen1998 9-$ $119 rs* for 3 Yeate details. 0% APR mple r co ply. 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