Iowa City woman set to become president of troubled state organization

IOWA CITY – Iowa City school board member Patti Fields is in line to become president of the oft-criticized Iowa Association of School Boards.

Fields was nominated Wednesday for the position of president-elect by the IASB's 15-member board of directors. Her nomination will be voted on by delegates of member districts statewide at an IASB assembly Nov. 16.

IASB spokeswoman Marti Kline said she's not aware of the delegate assembly ever not confirming the person sent to them. Fields would become president of the board in January, serving a two-year term.

The non-profit IASB provides lobbying, professional and instructional services to its members. It is funded primarily through government grants and membership dues.

It came under fire last year following accusations of extravagant pay increases and improper credit card charges for trips, restaurants and other expenses by former association officials.

Some IASB members also were upset by the dismissal of former president-elect Lee Ann Grimley earlier this year, a move that has not been publicly explained. Fields is now set to fill that position.

Linn-Mar's school board voted this summer to leave the IASB. Cedar Rapids chose to stay with the group because of an IASB program that gets districts lower interest rates, but the school board in June approved a resolution asking for the resignation of IASB board members.

Iowa City renewed its membership.

Fields, who has been on the IASB board since January, said 95 percent of members stayed with the organization.

She acknowledged IASB has gone through tough times but said it is ready to reconnect with districts and develop a strategic plan to help it move forward.

“I think that there is still a lot of skepticism across the membership with the organization, and it's an opportunity to answer those questions and then move past” them, she said.

Her being president, the expiration of several board members' terms, and having a new executive director and chief financial officer mean it's a time of transition for IASB, she said. Despite its problems, she believes in the organization's mission.

“I think it's really important for public education that's there a strong … Iowa Association of School Boards,” she said.

Russ Wiesley of Waukee is the current IASB president.

Fields has served on the Iowa City school board since 2005 and

narrowly won re-election earlier this month. She served as the board's president for two years until

Marla Swesey took over earlier this week.