Iowa City schools spokeswoman to leave for new job

One of the main public faces of the Iowa City Community School District is leaving her job.

Kate Moreland, the district's director of community relations, is resigning effective Jan. 7, according to personnel information released Thursday for the school board's review.

Moreland said she has accepted a job as director of collaboration and community relations at Iowa City Area Development Group, which works to attract interstate commerce companies to the area.

“It's really helping the community through a different lens,” she said of her new job.

In her role with the school district, Moreland works with the news media and the public and shares information about the district.

She joined the district nearly three years ago in a new position created by Superintendent Stephen Murley. She started as a half-time employee and now works three-quarters time at an annual salary of $79,762.

Moreland said her departure may cause some restructuring among departments. Murley said a transition plan is being developed and he's glad Moreland will be around to help with that.

He said he was sad to see her leave.

"When Kate was hired there was no Community Relations Department and she was charged with growing the program from the ground up," he wrote in an email. "Kate's departure is bittersweet."

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