1-year contract to City High leader is a ‘slap’

As the parent of a sophomore student at City High School, I am troubled by the actions taken by Superintendent Lane Plugge and the Iowa City school board concerning the contract with Principal Mark Hanson. Their decision to renew his contract for only one year is a slap in the face to all the hard work and dedication he has put into City High.

As Americans, we pride ourselves in our rights to free speech and an open debate of ideas and opinions. All sides of the debate concerning the schools in Iowa City need to be aired and discussed, and no one should be penalized for expressing their views and opinions.

Iowa City and its school systems are facing great challenges demographically and budgetarily, maintaining and modernizing aging schools, to name a few.

And if Mr. Plugge and the board think they can find a better person to do this, they are sadly mistaken. They should seriously reconsider their actions and support Mark Hanson in his efforts to continue the City High tradition in being “The School That Leads.”

A petition is being circulated to show support for Hanson and support for City High.

Phil Hemingway,

Iowa City