More on City High principal resigning

IOWA CITY - A little bit more on The Gazette story over the weekend that City High Principal Mark Hanson is resigning, effective June 30.

This was not a complete shock, with Hanson reportedly telling staff last fall that he was leaving at the end of the school year. His resignation would make that official.

Superintendent Lane Plugge declined to discuss the matter at the time, and I'm not aware of Hanson saying anything publicly. Neither returned phone calls Saturday.

The Press-Citizen reported in September that Hanson's mom said her son got in trouble for writing a newspaper column calling for boundary changes – something that is now under way - although he did not tell her why he was leaving.

Associate Superintendent Jim Behle told the paper that Hanson's mother was mistaken, saying it is against district policy to punish staff members for promoting their views ethically or "expressing an ethical dissent."

Some City High parents have spoken up for Hanson since then, including at school board meetings. Plugge is leaving for a new job at the end of the school year, and one City High parent recently told the board that Hanson should be considered for the district's top job.