IASB forced to open meetings, records under new mandate

DES MOINES – An association representing Iowa school boards that has been under scrutiny for its financial practices will be required to comply with the state's public records and open meetings laws under a new mandate approved by state lawmakers.

The Iowa Association of School Boards, a non-profit organization, typically would not be subject to Iowa's so-called sunshine laws.

But lawmakers earlier this year slipped a provision into an education spending bill that required the IASB to open up its meetings and records to the public.

The association is funded in part by public dollars, including membership dues paid by Iowa's local school districts.

“It's all about accountability and transparency,” Sen. Brian Schoenjahn, D-Arlington, said of the new requirement.

IASB spokeswoman Megan Forgrave said the association's understanding is they will be subject to the state's open meetings and open records laws even though they are a non-profit organization. She said they intend to comply with the new rule.

The IASB's next meeting is scheduled for July 14.

The Legislature's Government Oversight Committee launched an inquiry into the IASB, which fired director Maxine Kilcrease in March.

The IASB alleged Kilcrease took a salary increase that boosted her pay from $210,000 to what amounted to $367,000per year without approval of the IASB's board of directors.

The oversight committee also looked into allegations that former chief financial officer Kevin Schick used an IASB credit card to pay for airplane tickets for a personal trip to Bora Bora.

Schick has disputed those allegations, saying he applied for the credit card in his name to pay for business expenses and reimbursed the IASB.

Cedar Falls school board member Richard Vande Kieft, who served several years on the IASB board of directors, does not like the new requirements.

He feels the IASB is being singled out and said the new rules for public notices of upcoming meetings will hinder the smooth operation of the association.

“It's just an inconvenience,” Vande Kieft said.

Sen. Tom Courtney, D-Burlington, thinks the new requirements to open up the association's meetings and records are a good idea for an organization that receives public money.

“If you're going to be a private business fine, be a private business and don't ask the taxpayers for a dime,” Courtney said.

Courtney thinks lawmakers will be open to changing the requirements if concerns are raised.

“They'll have to have examples, because if they don't, if … they just don't like it, then it won't fly. We'll have to have a reason,” Courtney said.