Sioux City school board names Dr. Juan Cordova as next superintendent after closed session

The Sioux City Community School District Board of Directors on Feb. 7 voted unanimously to name Dr. Juan Cordova as its next superintendent and authorized staff to begin contract negotiations, after the board met in closed session under Iowa Code section 21.5(1)(a) to discuss personnel matters and records required to be kept confidential.

The board convened the special meeting at 10:30 a.m., noted that public comment is not a regular part of special meetings under Board Policy 204.15, and approved a motion to go into closed session citing Iowa Code section 21.5(1)(a) to evaluate the professional competency of an individual and to review confidential records related to the district's receipt of federal funds. The motion to enter closed session was moved and seconded and carried on a roll-call vote with all members voting in the affirmative.

After returning to open session, a board member moved "that our board name Dr. Juan Cordova as the next superintendent of schools for the Sioux City Community School District and to enter into contract negotiations to facilitate the hiring of Dr. Cordova." The motion was seconded and carried on a roll-call vote with all board members voting yes. Shanice called the roll for the naming motion; the board recorded unanimous support. The meeting then adjourned.

The board's action names Dr. Juan Cordova as the district's next superintendent and directs staff to negotiate an employment contract; the transcript does not specify the terms of any contract or a start date for Cordova. The board did not take public comment at the special meeting, consistent with Board Policy 204.15.

Next steps identified in the meeting are limited to contract negotiations with Dr. Cordova; no timeline for completing negotiations or for a public announcement beyond the motion was specified in the transcript.