Freedom of Information Council: Iowa Citians entitled to know more about superintendent’s consulting

IOWA CITY - The Iowa Freedom of Information Council has sent a letter to the Iowa City school board, advising the group to make public details about Superintendent Stephen Murley's out-of-district consulting.

'The Iowa City school board will erode the public trust if the board continues to treat as a governmental secret this important information in its possession about the superintendent's work for pay,” wrote Randy Evans, the council's executive director, in a letter dated Nov. 5.

The district has so far not released documents showing how Murley uses 10 days a year of discretionary leave allowed for consulting and other personal business.

News reports have named Murley and other superintendents across the country as having done work for a private educational company connected to a kickback scheme in the Chicago Public Schools.

Murley said he taught CPS principals for the SUPES Academy, but knew nothing about the scandal involving CPS Chief Barbara Byrd-Bennett, who has admitted to rigging $23 million in contracts for SUPES and a related organization.

Murley's contract with the Iowa City Community School District requires him to get prior approval from the school board president before doing paid outside activities. President Chris Lynch told The Gazette Thursday Murley prepares a written document annually documenting which days Murley will use discretionary leave, who he's working for and generally what he'll be doing. Murley does not report how much he's paid for these activities, Lynch said.

The Gazette has requested these records, but had not yet received them Friday afternoon.

Lynch told the Iowa City Press-Citizen Tuesday Murley is not required to disclose the information publicly.

The Freedom of Information Council disagrees.

'We believe Chapter 22.1 (3a) clearly states ‘all records, documents, tape, or other information” in the possession of a school corporation and not specifically excluded from the disclosure” be made public, the Nov. 5 letter states. 'Once Mr. Murley informs one or more board members of his outside work, as required by his contract, that information becomes public and needs to be disclosed.”

The council. whose membership includes media outlets, such as The Gazette, the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa and the Iowa Association of School Boards, said Iowa City residents are 'entitled to this information so they can judge for themselves whether Superintendent Murley's outside work for pay for SUPES Academy was appropriate.”

Lynch did not immediately return a phone message Friday afternoon.

Board Member Tom Yates confirmed he had received the council's letter, but said he had not responded, nor was he aware of responses from other board members.

Several board members, including Yates, said earlier this week they expect the board to discuss whether the district could have a policy about further disclosure of consulting work.

Murley, hired in 2010 to lead the district, is paid $205,500 this year.