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2 more ethics complaints can proceed in Iowa against ex-LPS superintendent Gausman

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Lincoln Public Schools Superintendent Paul Gausman speaks at a meeting on Tuesday.

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DES MOINES, Iowa — A professional standards board in Iowa has found probable cause to proceed with two more ethics complaints the Sioux City, Iowa, school district filed against Paul Gausman, who abruptly stepped down as superintendent of Lincoln Public Schools last month.

Gausman

Courtesy photo

During its monthly meeting Jan. 17, the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners also found probable cause for a separate ethics complaint the Sioux City school district, which Gausman led for eight years before coming to LPS in 2022, filed against its former human resources director Jen Gomez.

The board met in a closed session to review investigative reports for the complaints. It's unclear when the complaints were filed.

The two new filings are in addition to a different complaint filed against Gausman, which the board found probable cause to proceed with on Aug. 2, 2023. In that complaint, the Sioux City school board alleged Gausman attempted to bribe two newly elected school board members to pick a board president the then-superintendent preferred. The complaint has yet to proceed to a hearing with an administrative law judge.

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Because Board of Educational Examiners complaints are not public records under Iowa state law, they are only identified by case numbers during the board's open sessions, and it's unknown what the two new complaints against Gausman and the complaint against Gomez are specifically about. Complaints are only connected to specific individuals if the board finds probable cause to proceed.

On Dec. 27, Gausman, 58, announced plans to step back from his role with the Lincoln Public Schools. He took on the title of “superintendent emeritus” at that time and will serve in that role until June 30, when he will formally retire.

A so-called retirement agreement with LPS states Gausman “will not be at work or on school property without permission or unless called upon” while he serves as superintendent emeritus.

“Dr. Gausman informed the (Lincoln Board of Education) of his intention to retire in late November, and shared in his letter to the community that he wished to explore other opportunities," LPS spokesperson Mindy Burbach said in a statement to the Journal Star. "The board cannot speak to current actions of the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners.” 

In the two new ethics cases against Gausman, the Board of Educational Examiners found probable cause that there was a violation of the Iowa Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics and ordered staff to proceed with the case.

The section cited covers "incompetence" and specifically "willfully or repeatedly departing from or failing to conform to the minimum standards of acceptable and prevailing educational practice in the state of Iowa."

Gomez signed a separation agreement with the Sioux City district in August with the stipulation that the school district intended to file a complaint against her.

The Board of Educational Examiners is a professional practices panel that establishes and oversees the licensing process for educators at Iowa's accredited schools. Members are appointed by the governor and subject to confirmation by the Iowa Senate.

When the board decides that there is probable cause in a complaint, it advances the complaint to a hearing with an administrative law judge, who renders a decision and possible sanction. Sanctions can include the suspension or revocation of a professional license.

Sioux City board member Dan Greenwell filed the first complaint against Gausman in December 2022, with backing from the majority of the seven-member board. 

In response, Gausman filed a lawsuit in January 2023 calling for the removal of four Sioux City school board members, claiming they violated open meetings law by failing to properly inform him of two separate closed-session meetings and their purposes, which were to discuss his performance and the ethics complaint. A judge eventually ruled in Gausman’s favor in regard to one of the meetings, stating that the board had violated the open meetings law.

Greenwell was ordered to pay almost $53,000 in attorney fees to Gausman, due to his role in closing a Jan. 24, 2022, school board meeting, the Sioux City Journal reported in July.

Gausman then filed a second lawsuit a couple of months later, which claimed the Sioux City Community Schools district continued to deny an open records request he made. That lawsuit was dismissed.

Photos: Superintendent Paul Gausman's time in Lincoln

Lincoln Public Schools Superintendent Paul Gausman talks during the Lincoln Public Schools New Educator Kickoff on July 29 at Southwest High School.

JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star file photo

Lincoln Public Schools Superintendent Paul Gausman.

JOURNAL STAR FILE PHOTO BY KENNETH FERRIERA

Gov. Jim Pillen (left) talks with Lincoln Public Schools Superintendent Paul Gausman during All Kids Bike, Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023, at Pershing Elementary School.

JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star

Lacey Eddy, Scottish Rite Educator of the Year, speaks in front of Lincoln Public Schools Superintendent Paul Gausman (left) and Associate Superintendent of human resources Vann Price during an announcement ceremony Friday at Hartley Elementary.

JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star

Lincoln Public Schools Superintendent Paul Gausman delivers his year-end report to the board, Tuesday.

JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star

Journal Star reporter Jenna Ebbers contributed to this story.

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