Capital for a Day

Governor Dennis Daugaard listens as machining instructor Cyle Miller explains what skills students gain through the program and how the community pulled together to make the program happen in conjunction with the Governor's CTE Grant and Workforce Education Grant. photo by Coleen Keffeler

STURGIS, S.D. -- June 6, 2017, became a significant day for individuals living in and or around the Black Hills area this year since Sturgis was named “Capital for a Day” by Governor Dennis Daugaard.

According to sd.gov, “In the 1990s, Governor George S. Mickelson started a new tradition in South Dakota called ‘Capital for a Day.’ Gov. Mickelson would travel to a community and issue an executive proclamation declaring that town as South Dakota's Capital for a Day. He would spend the day touring the town, taking with people of the community and getting input from local leaders.”

Continuing the tradition begun by his predecessor, Daugaard “decided to continue the Capital for a Day tradition because it gives him the opportunity to hear from South Dakotans. Activities for the day typically include a main street walk, business tours and a community social. The Governor also holds roundtable meetings with community leaders to discuss prominent local issues.”

Superintendent Don Kirkegaard said. “There are a lot of good things going on in Sturgis and the surrounding areas, so we were a good choice. The last time we were the Capital for the Day was in the Rounds Administration.”

Individuals attending the “Capital for a Day” event included, Daugaard, District 29 Representative Gary Cammack, District 29 Senator Larry Rhoden, County Commissioner Galen Neuschwander, Sturgis City Manager Dan Ainsle, SEDC President Pat Kurtenbach, Bryce Richter - School Board president, Meade School District personnel, including Kirkegaard, Sturgis Brown High School Principal Pete Wilson, Assistant Principal Chad Hedderman, Activities Director Mike Paris, SBHS instructors Cyle Miller and Coleen Keffeler, Sturgis Elementary instructor Christy Hedderman, governor staff members, Ron Rosenboom (SEDC) and Sturgis Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Heidi Kruse among many other attendees.

After Kirkegaard introduced the governor and school personnel present, discussion ensued regarding how almost all of the machines in the building were purchased with grant funds made available by the governor through the Governor's CTE Grant and Workforce Education Grant.

“The Governor is very interested in workforce development and looked at our machine class as a good example. We also received significant state (add funds) contributing for the class and I assume they were looking to see if it was money well spent,” Kirkegaard said,

The partnership between the school and Sturgis Economic Development Corporation was shared with individuals present for the event.

Keffeler thanked the governor for providing the grant opportunities and shared additional information regarding the partnership, including the Reverse Career Fair.

At the opening ceremony, Kirkegaard said Governor Daugaard commented about SBHS being a leader in CTE in the state for over 20 years.

Wilson presented the governor with a pen made of deer horn, crafted by Miller. The pen is similar to an assignment he gives his students.

Miller discussed the program and answered questions, sharing insights about the partnerships with local businesses, including how Legend Suspension donated one ton of scrap aluminum for student projects, Long Rifle, Inc., donated a saw, DakotaArms also donated work tables and Scull Construction working in cooperation with SDSMT also donated tables.

Kirkegaard, Wilson and Miller shared the importance of the alternative certification process was in securing Miller as an instructor.

Kirkegaard shared how all students are OSHA certified before participating in any shop classes and Keffeler added information regarding the National Career Readiness Certificate assessment.

Governor Daugaard commented on the importance of different paths to showing competency in a profession.

“There are several different types of alternative certification avenues,” Kirkegaard said. “For a high school chemistry teacher, etc., you can seek an alternative certification certificate by having a BS in the area be taught, take several credits in pedagogy, Indian Studies, etc., pass the Praxis and get certification.For a CTE instructor, you can also show that you have hours worked in each field that you are instructing and take several required courses and become certified. You do not need a BA/BS to become certified.”

Wilson said, “The alternative certification process gives people in the business world with work experience to be able to obtain a teaching certificate without going back to school for multiple years. The prospective teacher uses hours in a particular field to gain certification. This is very beneficial to those hard to find teachers where certification is limited now days. I am not sure what if any university offer industrial technology certifications anymore, but I do know it is limited. The alternative certification is how Cyle became certified.”

Wilson said he feels the alternative certification program is a possibility for secondary institutions “because the private/business sector is more lucrative than teaching, individuals are okay with the pay decrease that teachers make, but they want to give back to the community and this method of certification allows them to do this without having to go back to school and spend a large sum of money to get the teacher certification. They use their experience plus they may be required to get a couple credited classes to become certified. In Cyle's case, his first certification was a 2-year certificate and then he had to renew again. I think this is a good deal, especially for those hard to find areas. I don't know if this is happening for like Science and math teachers, but it is happening in the CTE world like Cyle.”

Daugaard and other attendees asked great questions about the program and then Kurtenbach commented on the grant writing process and how it was group effort (business/education) in setting the curriculum and purchasing the machines.

There was additional discussion regarding dual enrollment as well, regarding how to get the machining class taught by Miller to count for postsecondary credit.

As to why Sturgis was selected for the honor, “I believe the itinerary is set up through the Governor’s office and the city manager,” Kirkegaard said. “We were contacted by the Department of Education and asked if we could host at the incubator building.”

“It is good for the governor to get out to the communities of South Dakota and visit with the people and what is happening around South Dakota,” Wilson said. “This is very beneficial for him and it also can showcase some good things that are happening in South Dakota, like the funding they provided for the machine shop. For SBHS, I think it showcased the school and the good things we are doing, on a small scale because it was only one classroom.”

“I thought it was a good day. We were able to highlight our CTE program the city was able to showcase the good things that are happening in Sturgis,” Kirkegaard said. “They were also able to view and discuss a possible future State Park. It is always good to be in situation where the Governor and the Department of Education have a favorable outlook on your district.”

Information on the sd.gov website said, “Since 2011, Capital for a Day has been hosted by Mitchell, Canton, Onida, Volga, Hill City, Britton, De Smet, Viborg, Aberdeen, Lead-Deadwood, Flandreau, Wall, Parkston, Faulkton, Wessington Springs, Milbank, Kimball, Madison, Spearfish, Lake Norden, Lemmon and Yankton.”

Interested communities are urged to fill out an application, the site said, and submit it to the Governor’s Office, and for more information, contact Kris Erickson at 605-773-3212 or Kris.Erickson@state.sd.us.