Hunter
05/28/26
The Iowa City Community School District board has approved the reassignment of Superintendent Matt Degner to executive director of secondary schools effective July 1st, a move that received public pushback at this week’s board meeting.
Degner announced his resignation as superintendent last week, saying he wanted to spend more time with his family after his mother was diagnosed with cancer.
The Board has come under fire after it was discovered the district failed to accurately track spending and revenue for nearly three years, fell behind on audits, and lost its bond rating.
Former ICCSD board member Maka Pilcher Hayek told the board at this week’s meeting that any hope of regaining the public trust is gone if Degner is allowed to continue to work in an administrative role.
Board member Mitch Lingo suggested offering Degner a one-year contract instead of the normal two-year agreement. He and Jayne Finch were the two dissenting votes among the six cast.
The board of directors also discussed the search for a new superintendent which included the scope of the search and the hiring of a search firm to assist in the process.