The Iowa Public Information Board
COMES NOW, Charlotte Miller, Executive Director for the Iowa Public Information Board (IPIB), and enters this Dismissal Order:
On July 23, 2026, Sharon Walsh filed formal complaint 26FC:0193, alleging that Des Moines Public Schools (DMPS) violated Iowa Code Chapter 22.
Facts
Complainant alleges that DMPS published their annual salary list in the Des Moines Register on July 20. According to Complainant the 5,000 employees were listed in a completely random order, making finding a single employee’s salary next to impossible. Complainant also mentions another local Des Moines Metro school district started doing this as well.
Applicable Law
“Upon receipt of a complaint alleging a violation of chapter 21 or 22, the [Iowa Public Information Board] shall do either of the following:
2. Determine that, on its face, the complaint is outside its jurisdiction, is legally insufficient, is frivolous, is without merit, involves harmless error, or relates to a specific incident that has previously been finally disposed of on its merits by the board or a court.” Iowa Code § 23.8(2).
Analysis
IPIB’s statutory jurisdiction to hear complaints is limited to Chapters 21 and 22, which deal with open meetings and public records law, respectively. Iowa Code § 23.6(4). While this complaint does deal with information that could be contained in public records, there is no provision of Iowa Chapter 22 that calls for the routine publication of school employee salaries nor any restrictions on how clearly the salaries must be arranged once published.
In its initial facial review, IPIB considers all factual allegations provided by the complainant to be true and accurate for the purposes of deciding whether to accept or dismiss a complaint. Because none of the allegations described in the present complaint could serve as the basis for a finding that the respondents violated either Chapter 21 or 22, IPIB lacks authority to weigh in on the merits of the complaint.
Conclusion
Iowa Code § 23.8 requires that a complaint be within the IPIB’s jurisdiction, appear legally sufficient, and have merit before the IPIB accepts a complaint. Following a review of the allegations on their face, it is found that this complaint does not meet those requirements.
On facial review, the complaint does not allege a violation within IPIB’s jurisdiction.
IT IS SO ORDERED: Formal complaint 26FC:0193 is dismissed as outside IPIB’s jurisdiction pursuant to Iowa Code § 23.8(2) and Iowa Administrative Rule 497-2.1(2)(b).
Pursuant to Iowa Administrative Rule 497-2.1(3), the IPIB may “delegate acceptance or dismissal of a complaint to the executive director, subject to review by the board.” The IPIB will review this Order on August 20, 2026. Pursuant to IPIB rule 497-2.1(4), the parties will be notified in writing of its decision.
By the IPIB Executive Director
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Charlotte J.M. Miller, J.D.
CERTIFICATE OF MAILING
This document was sent on August 13, 2026, to:
Sharon Walsh