South Dakota Ag Connection - Tech Ed Board Elects Officers, Appoints Search Committee

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Tech Ed Board Elects Officers, Appoints Search Committee
South Dakota Ag Connection - 07/20/2017

The Board of Technical Education held its first official meeting and elected officers today in Rapid City. Dana Dykhouse of Sioux Falls has been elected to a two-year term as board president, Bob Faehn of Watertown as vice president and Terry Sabers of Mitchell as secretary.

The board is charged with addressing the state's skilled workforce pipeline and education needs via the four technical institutes in Watertown, Sioux Falls, Mitchell and Rapid City. It will be tightly connected to business and industry and serve as a policy board and advocacy group specific to issues associated with higher education in a technical college setting.

"Our technical institutes are key contributors to South Dakota's workforce development efforts. As a board, we can help them grow to even greater heights," said Dykhouse. "Technical education is a cost-effective way for students to enter high-demand careers as skilled professionals, earning great wages."

The board also adopted its fiscal year 2019 budget proposal to present to the Governor for consideration. The request for ongoing funding totals $3.8 million and prioritizes maintenance and repair of the school facilities and affordability for students through tuition buydown. The budget proposal also includes a one-time funding request of $6 million for equipment to ensure students are educated with technology used in industry.

In addition, the board initiated a search process for an executive director to join its leadership team. Dykhouse will serve on a search committee along with board members Dianna VanderWoude of Sioux Falls and Doug Ekeren of Yankton.

The executive director will manage daily operations of the board and will be responsible for overseeing the administration, programs and strategic plan to support the state's four public technical institutes. Other key duties include business/industry outreach and collaboration, lobbying, policy and financial strategy of the board and technical institute system. The position will report directly to the board.

The position listing can be read at http://tinyurl.com/y9nnzf9u, and applications can be made at http://tinyurl.com/m2t8elk. The board also welcomes recommendations for the position, which can be directed to Tiffany Sanderson, director of career and technical education for the South Dakota Department of Education, at 605-773-3423.

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