Wilhelm: "We will get to the bottom of this" IASB scandal

State Senator Mary Jo Wilhelm of Cresco is promising the state legislature will fully investigate charges involving the Iowa Association of School Boards.

A March 15 copyrighted story in the Des Moines Register reported serious financial problems involving the IASB, including the current Executive Director being placed on paid leave until further investigation, high salaries in the organization and deals that were struck with the exiting finance director last year.

A State Senate subcommittee began hearings on the scandal this week. Wilhelm says, "We will get to the bottom of this. Iowa taxpayers want every penny of their money to be well spent and families deserve to know why scarce dollars are not being spent to improve Iowa schools."

Wilhelm says she's disappointed "that employees at the Iowa Association of School Boards have been spending taxpayer money—money meant for our kids and local schools—on vacations to Bora Bora, kickbacks to for-profit organizations and padding their own salaries.