Sioux City school board enters closed session after candidate requests confidentiality

The Sioux City Community School District Board of Directors voted unanimously on Feb. 6, 2025, to enter a closed session to evaluate the professional competence of an individual candidate and to review records the board said are confidential under state or federal law.

Board President George opened the special meeting at 6:30 p.m. and, after approving the agenda, moved that the board enter closed session under Iowa Code section 21.5(1)(i) to evaluate an individual and under Iowa Code section 21.5(1)(a) to review records required or authorized to be kept confidential as a condition of the district’s possession or receipt of federal funds. The motion received a second and passed on a roll-call vote with all board members voting in favor.

The request for a closed session was confirmed on the record. Miss Hellman, a staff member, told the board, “The candidate did request a closed session and it is in writing.” Director Greenville had asked whether the request was in writing before the vote.

Seven board members participated in the roll call approving the closed session: Board member Emke, Board member George, Board member Greenwell, Board member Lee, Board member Myers, Board member Michaelson and Board member Miller. The board entered closed session following the roll call and later voted by voice to adjourn the closed session and return to open session. After returning to open session the board moved to adjourn the special meeting.

The board’s public record on the motion identifies only the statutory bases for the closed session and the fact that the candidate requested confidentiality in writing. No further public details about the candidate or the content of the closed session were stated on the record before the meeting was adjourned.