Colonies allege conflict of interest in OPI's handling of their complaint

Jerome Tharaud

Havre Daily News

[email protected]@havredailynews.com

Two area Hutterite colonies say the state Office of Public Instruction broke state law in its handling of a dispute involving tens of thousands of federal education dollars, and that there was a conflict of interest when OPI's chief legal counsel presided over a hearing about the dispute.

Rick Bartos, the attorney representing the East End and Hilldale colonies in the dispute, made the allegations in a legal brief sent to the U.S. Department of Education late last week.

OPI's chief legal counsel said Monday...