Regents will consider Iowa Public Radio agreement renewal

The state Board of Regents next week will consider renewal of the service operating agreement between Iowa Public Radio and the regents that includes a provision for IPR to conduct itself consistent with Iowa open meetings and open records laws.

The regents meet next week in Iowa City, and the agenda information was released Wednesday.

Under the renewed agreement, Iowa Public Radio has agreed to conduct its meeting consistent with Iowa Code Chapter 21 (the open meetings law) and to make its records regarding operation management accessible to the public consistent with Iowa open records laws, the meeting information states.

Questions arose in recent months about IPR's status, when the IPR board of directors in February voted after a closed session to fire former chief executive officer Mary Grace Herrington. The organization's attorney argued IPR is not a governmental body.

The regents approved the initial public service operating agreement between Iowa Public Radio and the board in May 2007, for a term of six years. The proposed renewed agreement also is for six years, until June 30, 2019.

The purpose of the agreement is for IPR to manage the day-to-day operations of the radio groups on behalf of the regents and the three state universities.