The Brookings School District is off probation with the South Dakota Department of Education, according to a Friday news release from outgoing Superintendent Klint Willert.

A check of the state DOE website also confirms the status.

“Despite some delays due to circumstances outside of our control including the technological challenges with the state certification website, every effort was made to complete these items as quickly as possible,” Willert wrote in the release. “Our leadership team members were routinely in touch with the DOE communicating about the challenges to complete the accreditation process.  I am delighted to report the Brookings School District met these necessary state requirements and remains committed to the success of the learners we serve in the community.”

The district accreditation is good through 2028.

The district’s probationary status came to light at the same time the board announced Willert’s resignation, and online speculation linked the two processes. But documents later released by the school board showed that the process that led to Willert’s resignation began before the board was notified by the state DOE of the probation. 

According to the letter sent from the board’s attorney, Rich Helsper, to Willert — and dated March 8 — Willert’s written evaluation from the board was poor and he was offered the choice to resign on the board’s terms and receive next year’s salary, resign immediately and receive nothing, or be terminated for cause.

School Board President Keli Books said she received notice of the probationary status via certified letter dated March 10.

When asked why the board did not terminate Willert for cause, Books told The Register, “A negotiated settlement is always better than a litigated result. The board looked at many aspects of this matter and settled on this course of action.”

Willert eventually resigned effective in June. 

The board moved swiftly to appoint a firm to hire Willert’s replacement, with interviews scheduled for the end of this month. 

Michelle Vande Weerd, director of curriculum, instruction and continuous improvement, updated the board on the status at the April 13^th meeting.

Brookings was then the only school in the state still listed as “on probation” on the state DOE website.

Vande Weerd said at the meeting the district was down to submitting verification for 2 instances of teacher certification, one of nine original issues the state raised with the Brookings certification.

Linehan is the Register’s managing editor and welcomes comments at jlinehan@brookingsregister.com