The South Dakota Auditor General says he expects to release the final audit of the Gear Up program next month. Marty Guindon says the audit examines the financial dealings between federally-funded Gear Up and Mid-Central Education Cooperative.
“We have delivered what we believe is the final draft of those reports," Guindon says. "My local government audit manager was in Platte yesterday discussing the final draft of those reports with officials of the entity. They have committed to us, now, of providing to us the response in those management representations by May 19th, and that’s the time at which we would expect to release the report then.”
Guindon says officials have one more meeting with Mid-Central before the report is final. He says Mid-Central leaders can provide a response if they choose.
Guindon says his office was working on an audit of Mid-Central when its leader Scott Westerhuis killed his wife and four children in September of 20-15. Westerhuis then lit the family home on fire before shooting himself.
An investigation reveals Westerhuis stole more than 1-million dollars from Mid-Central and affiliated programs. The GEAR UP program aims to help low income students find paths to college.