Iowa City school board appoints former board member Shawn Eyestone to fill vacancy

IOWA CITY — Former Iowa City school board member Shawn Eyestone was unanimously selected by the board Tuesday to fill a vacant seat.

Eyestone — who has five years of experience previously on the Iowa City school board — was one of six applicants to a seat made vacant by J.P. Claussen’s resignation.

Iowa Code allows the school board to fill vacancies by appointment. A replacement must be appointed within 30 days of the vacancy. The school board is choosing to appoint a new member instead of holding a special election, for which the district would have to pay.

Claussen resigned effective Tuesday for a teaching job at West High School in the Iowa City Community School District, which conflicts with his role as a school board member.

“I know you will be an amazing asset to West High because you were equally amazing at the board table,” school board President Ruthina Malone said about Claussen. “You have been so passionate over the seven years, and I will greatly miss that.

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“I will be sure to visit my friend in his classroom,” Malone continued. “I’ve never been able to see you at what you do, but I’ve talked to you about your teaching, and I know how excited you are about the kids you get to serve.”

Eyestone will fill the remainder of Claussen’s term, which ends in November 2025.

The school board also unanimously appointed Molly Abraham as vice president in place of Claussen.

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Eyestone was first elected to the school board in 2017 and reelected in 2019. His term would have expired in 2023.

Eyestone stepped down from the board in August 2022 to pursue a teaching degree through the Regents Alternative Pathway to Iowa Licensure. He said one of his classes at the time conflicted with Iowa City school board meetings.

Eyestone said while he enjoyed his time in class, he ultimately found that teaching is not for him. “I decided it was in my best interest to step away from that,” he said.

In his application, Eyestone listed that he is currently working as a quality control manager at the University of Iowa Center for Biocatalysis and Bioprocessing.

Having the opportunity to complete Claussen’s term feels “serendipitous,” Eyestone said.

“Leaving with time on the table felt incomplete. I missed doing the work. It was very rewarding, even though it was hard and you’re making tough decisions. You’re doing it all for the kids,” Eyestone said.

Eyestone said he does not plan to run for school board for a third term.

Eyestone said he is especially looking forward to seeing through the district’s move from the junior high to middle school model this fall.

“Several years ago, I made my case for why I thought we should transition from junior highs to middle schools,” Eyestone said. “When I made my argument, I was hearing from junior high families that it’s not enough time for students to try different things.”

The new middle school model moves sixth-graders from elementary schools into buildings with seventh and eighth-graders. Curriculum is being created for the middle schools that aligns with Iowa’s career and technical education service areas.

“The programming changes are the pieces that are really going to make the switch to middle schools more successful,” Eyestone said.

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