Shenandoah School District Superintendent Jeff Hiser will have his day – or days – in court to fight to keep his job. The Daily NonPareil reports a hearing before an administrative law judge has been set, after the Shenandoah Community School District Board of Directors voted Nov. 5th to consider the termination of Hiser’s contract. Jim Hanks, an attorney for a law firm that represents the school district, said Hiser was not fired by the school board when it voted to consider the termination of his contract because he has tenure and is a non-probationary administrator. The school board can only start the proceedings for termination of his contract by considering such action.
Because Hiser decided to challenge the action, a hearing before administrative law judge Christie Scase will begin Jan. 7th at the Iowa National Guard Armory in Shenandoah. The hearing is expected to last days. Each side will have the opportunity to present its case with statements, evidence, witnesses and legal briefs. A ruling by Scase is required 10 days after closing briefs are submitted, so a decision is likely to come by late January.
A decision in favor of Hiser could be reviewed by the board, which could consider the evidence and testimony transcripts on its own and reach its own conclusion. Its decision, in turn, could be appealed by Hiser to the district court, as could a decision by the administrative law judge in favor of the school board. The information behind the decision will be released because the hearing itself will be open to the public, unlike a contract termination decision for a teacher.
The board took action against Hiser following an investigation claiming to have uncovered evidence of fraud, policy violations and a cover-up of misdeeds. Hiser has served as superintendent since 2011. He also served as Shenandoah’s mayor and on its city council, as well as on the community’s school board and as a volunteer firefighter and part-time police officer.
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