Becky Moore, SMC trustee, recently cited Public Act 300 of 1980. You accurately noted the law states, “part-time student employees were NOT exempt from having Michigan Public School Employees’ Retirement System contributions withheld from their checks.”

The OAG report stated in 2015, President Mathews was informed the college was not complying with Public Act 300. He chose to ignore the law and falsify Office of Retirement System documents that said the college was in full compliance. President Mathews argued that 1) SMC hadn’t budgeted for the deductions; and 2) a few other colleges were also breaking the law?

The OAG report stated, current SMC administrators admitted they hadn’t contacted ORS, the U.S. Department of Education, the college’s corporate counsel or other authorities who could have provided President Mathews with appropriate actionable information. 

According to the OAG report, SMC should have 1) offered retirement benefits to part-time student workers who were not receiving Federal Work Study funds; and 2) contacted ORS, the USDOE or other authorities for clarification. To me, this seems appears to be gross negligence, incompetence, malfeasance, and illegal.

President Mathews is now soliciting support from the Michigan Community College Association, other community colleges and the Michigan Legislators. Why didn’t President Mathews do this in 2015 before the college spent a fortune on legal fees?  How much is this costing taxpayers?  Where is the BOT oversight?

You promised information in the new taxpayer information page on the college’s website.  Where is the Feb. 2018 OAG Investigative Audit Report on the website.

I encourage all to read the report at audgen.michigan.gov/report-fraud/investigative-reports/

Tom Buszek

Dowagiac