The June election is just weeks away.
Six candidates are running for the three available three-year terms on the Britton-Hecla School Board, including incumbents Angela Grupe and Heather Landreth, along with Jeff Christenson, Amy Jo Vietor, Jeanne Ahlgren and Heidi Eimers. Incumbent Kelli Erickson did not submit a petition. The election will be held June 2.
Voters will cast ballots at their regular polling places this year rather than at the school. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., with early and absentee voting already underway.
To help residents learn more about the candidates and their priorities, the Journal invited each to complete a questionnaire. Their responses follow.
Background information
Angela Grupe: I grew up in Britton and attended Britton High School. I received a bachelor’s degree in business economics from SDSU and a bachelor’s degree in professional accountancy from NSU. I am married to Craig Grupe and live on a farm south of town with our 16-year-old daughter, Jaelee. I run my own business, Grupe Tax & Business Solutions, and I coach gymnastics and volleyball at BHHS. I am involved with the BH Booster Club and stay busy helping with many youth activities throughout the community.
Heather Landreth: I’m just a Midwestern nerd who loves education, compliance, ethics, privacy, and law. I am the Director of Compliance for Ivy Rehab Physical Therapy and Ivy Rehab for Kids. My work includes training and education of employees, development of policies, auditing and investigations, and consulting on enterprise business initiatives; basically I just get paid to geek out. I am currently obtaining my Masters in Legal Studies in Healthcare Compliance. I have two children who attend B-H: Layla (4th grade) and Logan (2nd grade); they are delightful and hilarious. I coach the Britton Swim Team and teach 7th and 8th grade Sunday school at First Lutheran. My heart is happiest when teaching or coaching, whether it be kids or co-workers; I believe education empowers people to find their voice and stand tall in any room. Free time is limited, but I like to sneak in a puzzle competition when I get the chance and I am obsessed with figuring out how to prompt AI to make me more efficient. Trust me, you don’t want to get me started talking about that.
Heidi Eimers: I was born and raised in Aberdeen but have been a Britton resident for the last 18 years. My husband John and I have been married for almost 17 years and we have three children: Easton (14), Emersyn (12), and Emsley (9), all of whom attend BHHS. I am self-employed as an in-home daycare provider and have been providing care for the last 12 years.
Jeanne Ahlgren: I moved to Britton 6 years ago and am retired from Gannett Offset for about 15 years. I have three children and five grandchildren. I have been a watercolorist, house fixer and flipper, and “back to the lander” among other things. I love the Lord and am involved in church and Bible studies.
Amy Jo Vietor: I’m married to Doug and our son Chaz is currently a sophomore at Britton-Hecla. I work as a physical therapist at MCHC.
Jeff Christenson: My daughters, Emily and Katelyn, are currently in 2nd grade and kindergarten at Britton-Hecla. My wife Abby and I also have a 2½-year-old son, Cashton, who will be a future Brave. Abby is a grain marketing consultant at Hurley and Associates in Britton and is involved in several community organizations. I grew up in our school system—preschool through 1st grade in Hecla, then 2nd grade on at Britton. I attended Augustana College where I earned a business administration degree. I moved back to Britton in 2012 to work at Green Iron Equipment as a precision ag specialist until joining the farm in 2014. I’m now starting my 13th season farming alongside my dad Roger and my uncle Scott. I have also owned and operated Jeff Christenson Construction since 2012. I’ve served multiple terms on the Britton Golf Board, am a member of “Men of First,” and am in my second term as a trustee at First Lutheran Church.
What is your reason for running for the board?
Grupe: As I finish my first term on the school board, I am happy to have that experience going into the next three years with the Britton-Hecla School district. I would like the opportunity to continue working for the district and continue to grow our strengths and improve all areas of the student environment. I enjoy working with the administration and staff and listening to how we can meet the needs of our teachers and staff to be a great workplace. I believe all growth and success starts with listening.
Landreth: I believe we all have a responsibility to give back to our community, especially when we are raising kids here. I have firsthand experience in education, policy management, and compliance and ethics. I try to use that experience where it can make a real difference. That’s why it makes sense for me to serve on school board.
Beyond that, one of my core values is belonging. I don’t believe we include people in spite of their differences—I believe they belong because of them. Every student brings something valuable, and our schools are better when that’s recognized. Board members have a responsibility to keep that in mind, and I will always stand up for students to feel respected and valued, without pressure to conform to someone else’s beliefs. Our schools should remain a place where everyone is cared for.
Eimers: I have served on my fair share of boards throughout my time here in Britton. I am currently on the Britton Youth Wrestling board, Swim Team board, and currently on our session board for the Presbyterian Church. I have always been interested in the process of how the school functions, decision making and in turn putting policies and procedures into place. The main goal is to make sure that staff and students are heard, find solutions to any issues that arise, and help our district grow with good intention.
Ahlgren: I have been attending Britton-Hecla school board meetings since August of 2024, primarily fighting the pornographic and inappropriate books and ebooks available in our schools and so I see a need for conservatives on the board.
Vietor: I’d like to be a part of the process that creates and supports policies that benefit our students and staff.
Christenson: I’m running for the School Board position to maintain an active role in our community and school system. With Emily and Katelyn at Britton-Hecla now and Cashton right behind them, I have a long-term investment in the longevity and success of this organization.
What do you feel is the number one concern facing the school district and how would you propose to deal with it?
Grupe: Funding our schools and maintaining a reasonable budget will be the number one challenge facing school boards across the state. I know it will take a conservative and creative approach in the future of funding our rural schools in South Dakota. As enrollment numbers have declined and costs are continually rising in every aspect of the budget, it will be a challenge to meet all the fiscal needs of the district. The best way to keep our school financially healthy is to prioritize spending and identify areas to cut when needed. Forecasting future years and trends will be essential to stay informed and allocate funds effectively. Keeping our school open and full of opportunities for our students and our staff is my main focus.
Landreth: If there’s one thing I’ve said over the past three years on the board, it’s this: good can still be better. I truly love our school district. I’ve seen this community show up for each other, especially in tough moments, and I know how deeply our teachers and administrators care about every student. At the same time, I believe there’s always room to grow. The real questions are, “What do we want to do?” and “What resources do we need to get there?” I enjoy digging into systems and finding ways to improve them so people are set up to succeed. This spring the board has started doing some work on a process for goal setting and long-term planning, and I am hopeful that I am given the opportunity to further that work for another term.
Eimers: As with any other business or establishment, budget and funding is one of the biggest concerns along with keeping our enrollment on the rise. Rising costs make it hard to balance all the necessities needed to keep everyone kosher. I believe having a balanced plan to keep our budget in line, accountability at every level, and avoiding any unnecessary spending would have great benefits to our district.
Ahlgren: One of my goals is for the school board to improve communication and consideration and cooperation for and with parents and the community. One way would be for the board to respond to issues brought up in the open forums. Another way would be a more user-friendly website that is easier to navigate and search, and gives heads-up on speakers and activities, curriculum, events, etc. available to the students with more transparency for the parents.
Vietor: Funding impacts everything and remains a top priority.
Christenson: Budget is the heart of a school’s operating capacity and the primary concern for every small district. I’d want to work with the current board to keep prioritizing the dollars that reach the classroom and faculty pay, and to pursue grants and shared-service opportunities with neighboring districts that stretch what we have.
List one other issue you would consider a priority for the district and what you think should be done about it.
Grupe: Filling vacancies with a smaller available teacher workforce has become more of a challenge than in the past. Schools have been forced to make changes due to vacancies by looking towards virtual opportunities, alternative pathways to certification and other creative solutions. We need to be a competitive and attractive district to recruit teachers and staff to come work for our school.
Landreth: A top priority is keeping strong programs and opportunities for students, even with the funding challenges rural districts face. That means being smart with our budget, speaking up for fair support from the state, and making careful choices that protect what matters most for our students and staff. The budget side isn’t where I’m strongest, but on a 7-member board, that’s exactly why having a mix of strengths matters. My role is to ask the right questions, push for clear explanations, help shape strategy, and make sure decisions are communicated clearly to staff and the community.
Eimers: I personally do not have a priority issue other than making sure our faculty and students feel heard and supported. Creating a welcoming and positive environment for all will benefit the Britton-Hecla School district in the long run.
Ahlgren: I would like to see the board meetings recorded and the recordings made available to the public and also clearer information about upcoming meeting agendas to encourage more public participation. I also want full transparency for parents/guardians of their religious opt-out rights won by the Supreme Court Mahmoud v Taylor decision in June of 2025.
Christenson: I believe teacher retention is a very important issue for our school district. I’d want to work alongside the current board to keep good teachers here—making sure they’re paid fairly, given the resources and support they need, and shown that this district values them for the long haul
Why should voters choose you over the other candidates?
Grupe: I am comm itted to making BHHS the best school district for our students to succeed. I like to listen to what the students, staff and admin are saying and try to best understand how the school board can provide the tools and resources to fulfill our mission and commitment to the success of our schools. I would love the opportunity to continue working for the district for three more years.
Landreth: With one term under my belt, I have been a strong contributor but feel there is still much I can do to serve our community. I’m not afraid to face tough issues if they come up. I love to talk about our district, the work we do on the school board, and education in general; in fact, I was just selected to present at the state-wide School Board and Superintendent conference about risk assessment in schools. Although I am strong in my convictions, I have the ability to listen, keep an open mind and let others show me a different viewpoint. I’ve seen how an effective, ethical board should operate, and I stay focused on making decisions that serve all students—not personal interests or a partisan platform. I thank you for considering giving me an opportunity to serve the Britton-Hecla School district for another term.
Eimers: All of the candidates running for school board each have their own strengths and weaknesses, we are all human. I am a firm believer in structure and communication. I understand that things all take time and that not all issues can be resolved overnight. I am also a go getter. I take great pride in accomplishing things and try my best in all aspects. I feel that I could be a great asset to the school board when it comes to staying on track, keeping communication open and accomplishing what is expected of me when needed.
Ahlgren: Our goal should be to provide all students a positive and challenging safe environment, and the life skills necessary for continuous productive growth, and to equip them to reach their potentials as proud patriotic citizens and critical thinkers. Curriculum, academic excellence and student achievement should be priorities, we can no longer blame COVID (6 years ago) for low scores. Civics and credible patriotic education are important, young minds should be rooted in the freedoms and values that shaped our nation—from the protections in the Bill of Rights to the courage of Americans who shaped our Nation to help your children build character, confidence, and a strong sense of identity.
Vietor: I’m encouraging people to get out and vote. There are many good candidates and people need to support those who they feel will fulfill the role of school board member well.
Christenson: I grew up in these schools and I’m raising my kids in them now—having two daughters enrolled and a future Brave means a 15+ year investment in how this board runs. And as a farmer and small business owner, I know what it’s like to work a tight budget—you have to find where things are falling through the cracks and plug the leaks. That’s the perspective I’d bring.
