ICCSD Special Education Staff Report Retaliatory Culture

Captions: 1. Supt. Steve Murley looking behind him at the big crowd that showed up to support former homeless liaison Stephanie Van Housen, who blew the whistle on inappropriate use of seclusion boxes in special education classrooms. 2. Stephanie Van Housen, who was fired. Hopefully, she is filing a lawsuit against Supt. Murley and the district.

ICCSD special education staff report a retaliatory culture exists in the school district, or at least the 24% of staff willing to participate in the Department of Accreditation Special Education Site Visit at all reported a retaliatory culture. Seventy-six percent of special education staff refused to participate.

The findings are that “24% of the combined 442 staff members (108) responded to the survey.

• 53 of the 137 special education certified staff members responded to the survey.
• 36 of the 305 special education support staff responded to the survey.

"Seventy-six percent of the combined 442 staff members (334) did NOT respond to the survey.

• 84 of the 137 special education certified staff members (334) did NOT respond to the survey.
• 269 of the 305 special education support staff did NOT respond to the survey.

"Of those who responded:

• 53 staff members indicated that they have experienced retaliation of some type.
• 28 staff members experienced retaliation personally.
• 43 staff members indicated that they experienced retaliation from district level supervisors/administrators.
• 30 staff members indicated that they experienced retaliation from building level supervisors/administrator.

"Of those who responded:

• 56% of respondents indicated that supervisors/administrators are approachable for questions or to deliver bad news to.
• 55% of respondents feel comfortable reporting an observed violation to a supervisor/administrator.
• 44% of respondents believe supervisors/administrators would respond appropriately if they were aware of improper conduct.
• 44% of respondents feel confident that they will not be retaliated against if they reported a violation to their supervisor/administrator.
• 44% of respondents know how and to whom they would report a violation concerning [their] supervisor/administrator.
• 44% of respondents DO NOT know how to and to whom they would report a violation concerning [their] supervisor/administrator.”

Because so few special education staff refused to answer the survey and so many who did respond reported a retaliatory culture in the district, a follow-up survey involving individual interviews will occur at a later date.

At his last listening post, an anonymous message was passed to Phil Hemingway, school board director and owner of Phil’s repair:

“Hey,

“As a taxpayer in the ICCSD I am appalled that the current [ICCSD] administration has retained Carmen Dixon [the former district’s special education director]. That is fiscally and morally reprehensible and I hope the board of directors makes this clear to our district’s superintendent and head of human resources. I don’t understand how someone who has clearly been given a vote of no confidence by those she was in charge of and who left the special education department in disarray can be given both family medical leave and another administrative role.

“Further, under her leadership the morale of the district’s special ed. teachers hit rock bottom and we incurred a more than $5 million deficit for the department she was in charge of. Lastly, her work as special education director led to the first and only incidence of an Area Education Agency turning in a school district to the state department of education for refusing to address citations they had levied against the ICCSD!

“Shame on Supt. Murley and those who supported this hire. I am not willing to divulge my name for fear of retribution but wish to make my feelings known to you as I feel you are a voice of reason who is truly a steward of the ICCSD and its many students and staff.

“Signed,

Anonymous”

And don’t forget former homeless liaison Stephanie Van Housen, who reported the inappropriate use of seclusion boxes in special education classrooms and was fired for whistleblowing, like so many who have reported violations of federal and state law in the Iowa City Community School District, including Dave Gurwell, the former assistant physical plant director, and Bob Porter, who no longer work for the school district. There are others. Not all of them are willing to come forward, but I know and have interviewed at least one of them. He was fired for revealing a second violation of federal and state law involving the removal of asbestos-containing material, again at City High School. Breaking federal and state law regarding removal and storage of asbestos-containing materials and physical plant staff bringing firearms to school district property have not been the problems for higher-ups that they should have been.

Firing whistleblowers in the Iowa City Community School District has been going on for decades. What's going on now is nothing new. Children and staff have been harmed and yet the school board continues operating with the 4-3 rubber stamp majority for all that Supt. Steve Murley does. It's a disgrace.

Board president Chris Lynch and board directors Brian Kirschling, Paul Roesler, and Latasha De Loach have got to go. So does Supt. Steve Murley. No more rubber-stamp board for an unethical superintendent who violates federal and state law and fires anyone who blows the whistle on him.