News : V-S Board ponders future of its IASB involvement

The recent scandals involving the Iowa Association of School Boards (IASB) has left many school districts pondering whether to continue their membership in the organization.

The board had planned to discuss its IASB membership in June, but tabled the issue until July.

Superintendent Mary Jo Hainstock said that there have been significant financial benefits for the district because of its IASB membership, although the future of those benefits is uncertain.

"Our bill to join for the 2011-12 year is $4828." said Hainstock. "We benefit from the organization in several ways. One way is that we are part of an insurance pool with EMC. Based on the usage, they provide a dividend check. Last February, we received a check for $19,539. If we did not belong to IASB, we would not be in as big of a pool and so our dividend may not be as large. However, there is no guarantee that we will continue to receive the dividends even if we belong to IASB. "

Hainstock said the district has had a "strong history" of IASB participation, but also says that school leaders throughout Iowa are frustrated with what has happened at the IASB recently.

"During the last two years, there are several things that have happened at IASB. This included hiring a new executive director who then gave herself a raise as well as several other employees without the board’s authorization; at the same time, she eliminated several staff positions citing budget constraints. A new Chief Financial Officer was hired and then it was discovered that he had used the association’s credit cards to charge a personal trip. More recently, the board voted to remove the vice-president from her leadership position," said the superintendent.

The Iowa Legislature has made new laws governing the IASB, which now must abide by the Iowa Open Meetings Law.

Hainstock said that VS Board President Todd Wiley has met with several board presidents in the area. They discussed IASB and whether or not each board would continue to belong. Many of the districts are discussing membership at their July meetings. At this time, it is scheduled to be part of the V-S Board's July 18 agenda.

Wiley was one of many school board members from across Iowa who was quoted in a Des Moines Register story about the issue.

"I remain unconvinced that IASB is operating in an ethical manner and holding themselves to a high standard. Perhaps the new employees can right the ship. I certainly hope so. Your credibility has been severely damaged. I'm not sure your representation is a good thing at this point," Wiley wrote to the IASB.