Atlantic School Board Upholds Accountability in Employee Misconduct Case

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The Atlantic Community School District board took a principled stand against government secrecy, unanimously voting to fire a high school guidance counselor rather than accept his resignation. The move comes after the board initially placed the employee on paid leave following a parent's concerns, and stands in contrast to other Iowa school districts that have allowed employees accused of misconduct to quietly resign.

Why it matters

This case highlights the importance of public accountability for government employee misconduct, even when it may be inconvenient or embarrassing for officials. By rejecting the employee's attempted resignation and instead voting to terminate him, the Atlantic school board upheld transparency and the public's right to know the circumstances behind agency demotions, discharges, and resignations.

The details

The Atlantic school board initially placed high school guidance counselor Jesse McCann on paid leave after a parent expressed concerns about a staff member on January 18. Rather than accept McCann's resignation, the board voted unanimously on February 11 to fire him. The nature of the allegations against McCann remains undisclosed, but the Iowa Freedom of Information Council has formally requested the documented reasons and rationale for the board's decision.

• On January 18, a parent called a school official to express concerns about a staff member.
• On February 4, the board canceled a special meeting to approve McCann's resignation.
• On February 11, the board met in open session and unanimously voted to fire McCann.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The Iowa Freedom of Information Council has formally requested the documented reasons and rationale for the Atlantic school board's decision to fire McCann. Additionally, Atlantic police are investigating an incident involving an unnamed school employee and one or more students.