THE IOWA SUPREME COURT HAS RULED THAT THE SIOUX CITY SCHOOL BOARD DID NOT VIOLATE THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT DURING A JANUARY 24, 2022 CLOSED SESSION INVOLVING AN EVALUATION OF FORMER SUPERINTENDENT DR. PAUL GAUSMAN.
THE HIGH COURT ALSO AFFIRMED THE DISTRICT COURT’S RULING THAT A NOVEMBER 30, 2022 CLOSED SESSION DID NOT VIOLATE IOWA CODE, CHAPTER 21.
THE RULINGS DEALT WITH A LAWSUIT GAUSMAN FILED AGAINST THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, FORMER SCHOOL BOARD CHAIRMAN DAN GREENWELL AND BOARD MEMBERS JAN GEORGE, BOB MICHAELSON AND TAYLOR GOODVIN ALLEGING THE MEETINGS VIOLATED THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT.
A WOODBURY COUNTY JUDGE RULED THAT PART OF THE JANUARY 24 MEETING DID VIOLATE THE LAW AND HELD ONLY GREENWELL LIABLE FOR DAMAGES AND LEGAL FEES OF OVER $52, 700 DOLLARS.
THE SCHOOL DISTRICT APPEALED AND THE SUPREME COURT HAS OVERTURNED THE DECISION.
GREENWELL SAYS HE HAS BEEN VINDICATED:
GREENWELL8 OC…..100 PERCENT. :23
THE SCHOOL BOARD HAD CHALLENGED GAUSMAN’S ETHICS IN ALLEGEDLY TRYING TO INFLUENCE NEW BOARD MEMBERS TO SUPPORT HIS CHOICE OF ANOTHER BOARD MEMBER TO BE SCHOOL BOARD PRESIDENT.
GREENWELL, WHO LOST HIS REELECTION BID TO THE SCHOOL BOARD LAST NOVEMBER, SAYS HE WORKED TO HOLD CITY SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS:
GREENWELL9 OC…..IS NOT. :23
GREENWELL DID NOT APPLY TO REPLACE JAN GEORGE ON THE SCHOOL BOARD, WHO RECENTLY RESIGNED FOR HEALTH REASONS.
HE SAYS HE IS FOCUSING ON HIS BUSINESS FOR NOW, BUT IS STILL INTERESTED IN WHAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS DOING AND DOESN’T RULE OUT RUNNING AGAIN:
GREENWELL10 OC………PUT UP WITH. :28
GREENWELL IS REFERRING TO ALLEGATIONS OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT BY FORMER SUPERINTENDENT JUAN CORDOVA WHO RESIGNED IN JANUARY AND WAS PLACED ON PAID ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE LAST NOVEMBER.
