Schopp: GEAR up Reviews Didn’t Spot Financial Crimes

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota's top education official says a cooperative that administered the GEAR UP college-readiness grant had been under financial scrutiny for more than three years before state officials decided to revoke its contract.

But Education Secretary Melody Schopp tells the Argus Leader her department found only incompetence, not anything criminal.

Audits found financial issues that contributed to the state's decision in September to cancel a $4.3 million contract with the Mid-Central Educational Cooperative to administer the federal grant.

The state's relationship with Mid-Central is in the spotlight because of a murder-suicide involving two co-op employees. State and federal authorities are now investigating.

State Republican Rep. Lance Russell has said Schopp should resign over the state's oversight of the grant program. Gov. Dennis Daugaard says Schopp has his full support.

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