Regina Catholic schools president resigns

IOWA CITY — Regina Catholic Education Center president Lee Iben has resigned, Regina board president Jim Nepola confirmed late Wednesday night.

Iben announced his resignation Tuesday, effective immediately, Nepola said.

The move comes after a late-October email from the board to Regina parents, in which the board vaguely referenced concerns about Iben.

According to the email, parents expressed concern about 'a report released about Regina's President Lee Iben.'

'Though the Board does not comment on personnel issues, be assured the Board is aware of the true nature of the situation and is addressing it,' the email reads.

In the same email, the board said a consulting firm had recently conducted an 'Enrollment Catalyst Survey' for the district, the results of which were shared with Iben and other administrators.

'The results were also provided to the Board, however, not in their entirety,' the email continues.

Nepola declined to comment on that situation and any link between it and Iben's resignation.

He also declined to comment on whether the board had asked Iben to step down, saying only that Iben decided to resign.

Iben is a former board member and chairman at the private Iowa City school. He took over as president in December 2011 after serving as interim president for several months that year.

The school's board is in 'active discussions' about replacing Iben, Nepola said. The school has not named an interim superintendent, he added, but Iben's duties are being covered by other administrators.

Several administrators and other board members at the school declined to comment.

Iben did not respond to requests for comment.

Reporter Mitchell Schmidt contributed to this story.