News Track: Iowa City schools’ ombuds helping to solve conflict

IOWA CITY — Janet Abejo-Parker is building trust with students, staff and families as she helps them navigate conflict and resolution in year three of her role as the Iowa City Community School District’s ombuds.

Background

An ombuds is an official who provides a safe, confidential space for people to bring forth concerns and discuss their options.

Adding an ombuds office to the school district was approved by the Iowa City school board in 2021 to raise awareness of concerns, promote a civil, equitable and inclusive organization and improve organizational culture, according to the district’s website.

The district hired Abejo-Parker, who previously worked at the Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission as a senior investigator and served as interim executive director.

The state of Iowa has an Office of Ombudsman for residents to file a complaint with a state or local government agency. Both the University of Iowa and Iowa State University have ombuds to handle questions from staff, faculty and students about work problems, conflicts over grades or other academic issues and student employment, among other things. But having an ombuds in K-12 schools is not common.

The Iowa City schools’ ombuds office is confidential, impartial and works independently of other school district departments.

What’s happened since

Abejo-Parker connects visitors with district contacts and resources, community resources, acquires clarification and information on the district’s policies and processes, conducts informal meditations, provides feedback to district leadership and shares conflict resolution best practices.

The role of ombuds is “a difficult position to pronounce, to understand and to initiate in any organization,” Abejo-Parker said. “I have heard many a cautionary tale of other ombuds who did not feel the support starting the role that I have felt here. I am grateful to be able to serve in this unique role at a very special district.”

During the 2022-23 school year, Abejo-Parker worked with 127 people who brought their concerns to the ombuds office. This is an increase of 27 from the year before, according to data Abejo-Parker shared last month during a school board meeting last month.

Abejo-Parker has three strategic goals for this year:

The concern brought to Abejo-Parker the most last year was constituent relationships. This included concerns regarding voluntary school transfer requests and disciplinary decisions, process and policy.

Other concerns brought to the Iowa City schools’ ombuds office included bullying and harassment, compensation and benefits, peer and colleague relationships, career progression and development and safety, health and physical environment.

In a survey to people who used the ombuds services, more than 90 percent responded they felt they were treated in a professional manner and would use the office again and refer others to the office. About 19 percent — or 21 people — responded to the survey.

Abejo-Parker also shared “testimonials” in her presentation to the school board from people who used the office last year.

“I think it was so important as a brand-new district resource to provide opportunities for feedback on experiences when they did reach out to the ombuds office,” Abejo-Parker said. “I truly appreciate positive feedback as well as the constructive feedback I get.”

One testimonial talked about what a “great addition” the ombuds office is to the school district and how “attentive, empathetic and professional” Abejo-Parker is. “It’s a great feeling to know she is there when needed,” the testimonial read.

“It is extremely valuable to have a confidential, neutral party to help find solutions to problems, and Janet was a really great resource who made me feel heard and helped me identify options,” one of the confidential testimonials read.

Comments: (319) 398-8411; grace.king@thegazette.com