Iowa Court of Appeals dismisses Price Lab lawsuit

The Iowa Court of Appeals has sided with the state Board of Regents in dismissing the appeal of a lawsuit regarding the closing of Price Laboratory School at the University of Northern Iowa.

The Appeals Court dismissed the lawsuit, brought by parents and supporters of the lab school, on Wednesday because the appeal was not filed within a required timely window, according to the ruling.

The regents in spring 2012 closed Price Lab School as part of UNI budget cuts. Most of that building has been demolished.

A group of parents and educators fought to keep Price Lab open, filing a lawsuit in 2012. Supporters claimed the board overstepped its authority, arguing the Price Lab facility was to be used as the site of the State Research and Development School established by lawmakers, a statute that precluded the regents from closing the school.

A district court  judge ruled against the plaintiff group, siding with the regents in a June 2012 decision.

Those parents and supporters filed an appeal to the Iowa Supreme Court, a suit that lawyers for the state asked the high court to throw out.

The Appeals Court agreed with the state's motion to dismiss on Wednesday, saying the notice of appeal was not filed within the required 30-day window.