Murley plans to build relationships, tackle big issues in Iowa City schools

Stephen Murley expects redistricting, high school enrollment and the budget to be among the most pressing issues he faces when he starts as superintendent of Iowa City schools July 1.

But to start, he'll work on establishing relationships in the community, Murley said Wednesday, a day after the school board announced his hiring.

“To move quickly as a district, I need to move slowly as I come in,” he said. “And I need to make sure that the opportunities are there for me to meet people inside and outside the school district and get their perspectives on the issues facing the Iowa City Community School District.”

Murley, 43, will replace Lane Plugge, who has been superintendent for 11 years and is leaving for a job in western Iowa.

Murley has worked for the Wausau, Wis., school district for 11 years, including the past five as superintendent.

The Iowa City school board is expected to vote on a scenario to redraw school boundaries, or redistricting, in the coming weeks, but it will be up to Murley's administration to implement the plan.

Murley said he thought the related topic of high school enrollment may be a bigger issue long term. The school board Tuesday night said it wants to build a third comprehensive high school to handle growing enrollment, but it has not decided when that building would open and there's a question of whether the district can afford to operate a new high school.

Murley said it will be important with him to talk with school officials and people in the community and do research on the issue.

“I know that there has been quite a bit of discussion about that; I know that there is no clear resolution,” he said.

The budget also will be a focus. In the face of dwindling state aid, the Iowa City school district has cut is spending by several million dollars in the past year.

Murley said he would look for savings in operational expenses away from classrooms.

School board President Patti Fields said Murley's energy, communication skills and ability to handle difficult decisions stood out among the finalists.

“We were impressed with his professionalism, his ability to answer difficult questions and address difficult situations,” she said.

One of those difficult situations was a no confidence vote earlier this school year by the leadership of the Wausau teachers union. That came after Murley proposed giving some teachers an extra teaching assignment and freezing salaries in response to a state budget cut.

Murley has said that relationship is better now, and one of the outcomes was the creation of a leadership group made up of members of the union, school board and administrative team.

Tom Yates, president of the local teachers union, the Iowa City Education Association, said the no confidence vote raised some red flags for him, but he didn't know enough about it to have an opinion on it.

“The ICEA is hoping for an amicable and constructive relationship with the new superintendent,” he said.

Iowa City school board member Sarah Swisher, who is a union representative for the Service Employees International Union, said she took the no confidence vote seriously. But she said the board talked to the president of the Wausau teachers union, who confirmed what Murley said - that it was a small part of the union that cast the vote and the relationship between him and the union was good.

She said she was excited the Murley agreed to come to Iowa City. She believes he can help the school board multi-task better, saying she is at times frustrated that the board will take on only a couple of big projects when there are other needs that require its attention too.

“I think we're bringing somebody in who can handle and juggle massive amounts of information and really keep all the plates spinning,” she said.

Fields said she hopes the board votes on a contract for Murley in May. His compensation is still being negotiated.

Plugge's current salary is

$174,021, plus benefits.