Iowa City schools puts homeless liaison on leave

IOWA CITY - The Center for Worker Justice of Eastern Iowa has filed a complaint with the Iowa City Community School District after officials put the district's homeless liaison on leave last month.

The center claims in its May 2 complaint the district violated district policies in placing Stephanie Van Housen on leave April 8. Further, the organization asserts, Van Housen's suspension of duties leaves needy families in the lurch.

'You are preventing students and families from receiving the benefit of her experience and skill in assisting and advocating for the most economically vulnerable and academically at risk students in the district,” wrote Center President Mazahir Salih.

District officials would not comment on the leave Wednesday, saying it is a personnel matter. An email Superintendent Stephen Murley forwarded to The Gazette said they could not say whether the leave is paid - despite the fact school employee compensation is public information.

The district did not immediately respond to a question asking whether there is a pending investigation, but said 'we hope the matters will be resolved in the coming weeks.” The last day of school in Iowa City is May 25.

Van Housen's duties at Grant Wood Elementary have been assumed by Joan VandenBerg, the district's youth and family development coordinator, the district reported.

'Joan notified all student and family advocates, building administrators, and counselors, as well as key agency partners that she is the homeless liaison and has asked staff to change the contact information on the posters which hang in all of the schools,” the email said. 'The district is confident that there has not been an interruption in services to homeless families in the absence of Ms. Van Housen because of the skills and dedication of our student and family advocates.”

The Center for Worker Justice claims Van Housen was put on leave after questioning why she could not use a joint city/school district meeting room at Grant Wood school to meet with families who live in Rose Oaks Apartments. Tenants at the complex, some of whom have children at Grant Wood, were asked in March to vacate the complex as soon as possible to make way for renovations.

Van Housen also complained to the School Board when a community soccer group with which she worked was allegedly removed from the agenda of a meeting in which the group was to talk about its accomplishments, the complaint states.

'You have violated Superintendent Direction (LEVEL3b), 3, which requires you to ‘Allow staff members to communicate with board members, either individually or as a board, with regard to any matter',” Salih wrote.

Van Housen, who served as homeless liaison for almost seven years, told The Gazette Wednesday she shared her personnel file with the center in hopes public pressure can help get her back to work sooner.

'I didn't break any policies,” she said. 'I absolutely love the work that I do. I've had a tremendous outpouring of support.”

Marvin Bonilla, of Iowa City, helps coach the Iowa City soccer league Van Housen started. He has two daughters who play.

'She is really a great person,” he said of Van Housen. 'She helps everybody.”

Van Housen brings water and snacks for the players, of which there are about 90, and helps gather second-hand cleats for low-income families, parent said.

'I've seen the work she does is very impressive,” Claudia Cortez, of Iowa City, said through an interpreter. 'In fact, she's developed my own leadership because now I volunteer as an assistant coach.”