South Dakota Secretary of Education Melody Schopp is retiring from her position in December.
Schopp’s retirement comes on the heels of a recent inquiry into her knowledge about any mishandled Gear Up program funds.
Schopp's retirement was announced earlier today by Governor Dennis Daugaard’s office.
She took the helm of the Department of Education in 2011, when Daugaard took office. She’s retiring a year before the governor is term limited. She has been with the department of Education since 2000.
Schopp’s retirement ends a nearly 40-year career in public education.
Senator Jim Bolin is chair of the state senate education committee. He says he was surprised by the timing of her retirement and not finishing out Daugaard’s second term.
“I admire her efforts,” Bolin says. “She was a very dedicated—and I will say this—respected person by most people, most professional educators. I think most people thought of her in a pretty positive light, because she was a hardworking, dedicated person to her task.”
Several lawmakers called on Schopp to step down from her position as Secretary of Education after the Government Oversight and Accountability Committee discovered she ignored early warnings over mishandled money from the federal Gear Up program.
Senator Deb Peters sits on the GOAC committee.. She says she’s not concerned about the timing of Schopp’s retirement. Peter’s says she’s been talking about retirement with Schopp for a couple years.