25FC:0073 Justin Scott v. Denver Community School District - Final Report

The Iowa Public Information Board

COMES NOW, Alexander Lee, Agency Counsel for the Iowa Public Information Board (IPIB), and enters this Final Report:

On June 12, 2025, Justin Scott filed formal complaint 25FC:0073, alleging that the Denver Community School District Board of Directors (Board) violated Iowa Code Chapter 21.

The IPIB accepted this Complaint on March 20, 2025.

Background

On June 12, 2025, the complainant, Justin Scott, filed formal complaint 25FC:0073, alleging that the Board had violated Iowa Code § 21.4(1)(a) by failing to provide proper agenda notice of personnel contract renewal decisions approved at the Board’s June meeting. Prior meeting agendas and minutes showed that the Board’s common practice has been to act on contract renewals under a one-word “Personnel” agenda item, which appeared under the “Reports” heading, alongside other non-action informational reports such as “Middle School Principal,” “Superintendent,” and “Board President.” Concerns were also raised after the complaint was accepted about whether the Board was properly identifying individual items to be voted on within its general consent agendas.

For the purposes of informal resolution, the Board worked with IPIB to update its practices for preparing meeting agendas to better satisfy the notice requirements of Chapter 21.

Informal Resolution

Following mediation, all parties agreed to an Informal Resolution to resolve the complaint, which IPIB approved on November 20, 2025. Pursuant to that Informal Resolution, the following remedial actions were taken:

1. This Informal Resolution was formally approved at a November meeting of the Denver Community School District Board of Directors. The Board included a copy of the Informal Resolution in its meeting minutes and provided IPIB staff with a copy of the minutes demonstrating approval.

2. In adopting the Informal Resolution, the Board agreed that items requiring deliberation or action by the Board, including consent agenda items, will be listed on the tentative agenda under a heading or subheading which sufficiently apprises the public that action may be taken, including but not limited to “Old Business” or “New Business.”

3. With regards to routine contract renewal decisions, the Board agreed to include language in its agendas which differentiates these types of decisions from other personnel matters and makes it clear that the Board may consider official action, rather than merely receiving a report (e.g. “Approve consent agenda personnel contracts.”).

IPIB staff certify that the Denver Community School District has satisfied its obligations under the Informal Resolution as of December 5, 2025.

Procedure

Justin Scott approved the Informal Resolution on October 17, 2025.

The Denver Community School District approved the Informal Resolution on October 17, 2025.  

IPIB approved the Informal Resolution Report on November 20, 2025.

All terms of the Informal Resolution have been met. IPIB staff recommends this Final Report be adopted and the complaint be dismissed as resolved.

By the IPIB Agency Counsel,

_________________________

Alexander Lee, J.D.

CERTIFICATE OF MAILING

This document was sent on December 11, 2025, to:

Justin Scott, Complainant

Denver Community School District, Respondent