The Iowa City Community School District board of directors accepted superintendent Matt Degner’s resignation at a special board meeting in a 5-2 vote.
Degner announced in May that he was stepping down from his leadership position to spend more time with family, following his mother’s cancer diagnosis.
The board accepted Degner’s resignation on June 2 a week after it approved his request to become the ICCSD executive director of secondary schools, grades 7-12, in a 4-2 vote on May 26.
Degner’s salary in his new position is “to be determined.”
Directors Jayne Finch and Mitch Lingo voted “no” to Degner’s new role and voted “no” against Degner’s resignation on June 2.
In Degner’s formal resignation letter, he requested a transfer within the district; his last day as superintendent of the Iowa City Community School District will be on June 30. However, director Finch argued that Degner’s letter was “conditional” and “transactional.”
“This is not a typical letter of resignation,” Finch said. “I’m very uncomfortable with the conditions and transactional nature. It reads more like a legal contract than a gracious letter of resignation, which would be typical. The board gives direction, not the other way around.”
Finch said she sought legal advice concerning Degner’s resignation letter, saying it could be “interpreted as a release of liability” and sends the community “a specific message.”
“There is a narrative that this board is a rubber stamp, and I think by approving this transactional, conditional letter of resignation, we do nothing to dispel that narrative,” Finch said. “…None of the changes that I’ve asked for, in terms of removing this conditional and transactional language, should give anyone heartburn. The purpose is simply to protect our district, our taxpayers, and our stakeholders, and if there is resistance to preserving the board’s rights and remedies, that would warrant additional scrutiny.”
Board director Lisa Williams said the legal questions were resolved, including Finch’s requests to add stronger termination protections to Degner’s contract. Williams referenced a discussion about whether the contract should allow the district to terminate Degner if an investigation uncovered legal issues, gross negligence, willful misconduct, or fraud, or that he intentionally misled the board or the public. Williams said an attorney did not feel that specific language was necessary.
“There is no legal need to include language in the contract because we have existing authority determining employment in the event that any of those things exist,” Williams said. “I don’t know why people on this board are asking for a legal opinion that we have already received.”
District continues to grapple with budget crisis and transparency concerns
The school district faces scrutiny as it continues to navigate its financial crisis, which began to unravel after the board of directors was asked to retroactively approve a $10 million interfund loan to pay salaries. The district also failed to accurately track spending and revenue for nearly three years, fell behind on audits, and lost its bond rating.
The budget issues required the district to seek emergency loans and $7.5 million in spending cuts for fiscal year 2027, which begins on July 1. Budget reductions include cutting a variety of support staff and substitute teachers, eliminating staff stipends, reducing building budgets, software expenses, and transportation for student events, delaying curriculum purchases for a year, and eliminating consulting contracts.
The district said it may have to close school buildings as it works toward financial stability.
When will the Iowa City Community School District get a new superintendent?
The board of directors, on June 2, unanimously approved a $5,910 contract with Grundmeyer Leader Services to search for an interim superintendent. The district said it expects to make an offer by the week of June 22, with the candidate expected to begin July 1.
Jessica Rish is an entertainment, dining and education reporter for the Iowa City Press-Citizen. She can be reached at JRish@press-citizen.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @rishjessica_
This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: Iowa City CSD approves superintendent resignation, talks new contract
Reporting by Jessica Rish, Iowa City Press-Citizen / Iowa City Press-Citizen
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By Jessica Rish, Iowa City Press-Citizen | USA TODAY Network
