Johnston School Board Officers Address Concerns of Fellow Board Member's Conduct

Two Johnston school board members on Monday addressed concerns about a sitting board member's conduct.

Board President Mike Farrell read a joint statement he composed with vice president Greg Dockum detailing concerns with sitting board member John Dutcher.

The letter served as a follow-up to a meeting between Farrell, Dockum and Dutcher in October.

The October meeting concerned allegations of multiple policy and ethics violations committed by Dutcher and presented to the board by petitioners.

Farrell said at the conclusion of that meeting he and Dockum believed Dutcher -- who in the past filed formal complaints against four board members with the Iowa Campaign and Disclosure Board that were later dismissed -- would comply with district policy and ethics outlined by the Iowa Association of School Boards.

"The officers of this board feel that we cannot allow your continuous blatant violations of policy and your lack of ethics to continue," Farrell said.

Dutcher interrupted the reading and declared the letter "a piece of (expletive)."

Farrell said recent actions by Dutcher - through emails and comments on the Des Moines Register website - show he has not abided by board policy or the IASB's Code of Ethics.

On Jan. 12, Dutcher commented on a story by the Des Moines Register detailing a parent's complaint of a trailer of "Texas Chainsaw 3D" during class.

Dutcher's comments included saying the board was "largely complacent" when they "rushed through" policies in recent months.

He went on to say he was disappointed in how the board and administrators addressed the complaint involving the movie trailer.

Dutcher also apologized to the family on behalf of the board.

In his statement, Farrell alleged the comments are in direct violation of the district's policy "Directors' Code of Conduct" (202.1.1), which states:

• Item 3B: Board members’ interaction with public, media or other entities must recognize this limitation and the inability of any board members to speak for the board or school administration except to repeat explicitly stated board decisions.
• Item 3C: Board members will not publicly make or express individual negative judgments about the superintendent, staff performance or other board members.
• Item 4: Board members must maintain the confidentiality appropriate to issues discussed in closed session or those issues deemed confidential by law.

Farrell and Dockum further allege that Dutcher violated IASB Policy 202.1 Board of Directors Code of Ethics:

• Maintain the confidentiality of privileged information.
• Make no disparaging remarks, in or out of the board meeting, about other members of the board or their opinions.
• Recognize that authority rests with the board in legal session, and not with individual members of the board, except as authorized by law.
• Refrain from discussing the confidential business of the board in my home, on the street, or in my office; the place for such discussion being the school board meeting.
• Function, in meeting the legal responsibility that is mine, as a part of a legislative, policy-forming body, not as an administrative officer.

"We as a board have much work to do, and our public expects us to handle ourselves in a professional manner worthy of our elected positions," Farrell said. "Our expectation going forward is that you will abide by the policies of this board and the IASB Code of Ethics, working with the board and administrative team in a respectful manner allowing our administration and staff to do their jobs without interference."

After the statement was read Monday night, Dutcher said it was the "most ludicrous thing ever."

"I am tired of not getting information from the administration … tired of the way you treat other members of the board," he said. "Under your leadership the board is heading more to a joke."

Farrell said he would ask the board members to sign the letter at the Feb. 11 board meeting.