IFOIC

Randy Evans, executive directorIowa Freedom of Information Council This article is free to use and publish in your publication.  These days, I stand in front of audiences and engage in what is politely called “public speaking” more often than even Mr. Gentry ever imagined when I showed up at his office door 55 years ago with…

Randy Evans, Iowa Freedom of Information Council This article is free to use and publish in your publication.  In my day job, I wear the hat of the executive director of the Iowa Freedom of Information Council. This nonprofit, nonpartisan organization has been around for 40+ years.  We advocate on behalf of the public and journalists…

Randy Evans, executive directorIowa Freedom of Information Council This article is free to use and publish in your publication.  Gov. Kim Reynolds signed into law Monday a bill that has been on the Iowa Newspaper Association’s “wish list” since 2018. SF 2322 makes important changes in Iowa’s public records law that relate to the fees state…

Randy Evans, executive directorIowa Freedom of Information Council This article is free to use and publish in your publication.  There has been a lot of talk lately about why Iowa’s K-12 school districts need to be more transparent, and more accessible and more accountable, to parents and the rest of the tax-paying people of Iowa.…

Randy Evans, executive directorIowa Freedom of Information Council This article is free to use and publish in your publication.  Typically, in the days leading up to the start of a new session of the Iowa Legislature, the attention is on lawmakers’ goals and priorities — and on the pledges they make to work together for…

By Randy EvansExecutive DirectorIowa Freedom of Information Council This article is free to use and publish in your publication. The past couple of years have been challenging for Iowa’s 327 public school districts. Parents have become very engaged with their schools — and enraged, too, at times. This has revolved around masks and vaccines, what…

By Randy Evans, Executive DirectorIowa Freedom of Information Council This article is free to use and publish in your publication. The Iowa Legislature’s “To Do” list should be a little longer after last week. And people need to contact their senators and representatives in the Legislature to make sure they understand their duty is to…

Randy Evans, executive directorIowa Freedom of Information Council This article is free to use and publish in your publication. Several times a week, someone reaches out to me because they had difficulty learning about a government meeting or ran into obstacles trying to get government records. These calls and emails to the Iowa Freedom of Information…

Randy Evans, executive directorIowa Freedom of Information Council This article is free to use and publish in your publication. The 2021 session of the Iowa Legislature will end in a few weeks, and one big issue moving toward a final vote would make charter schools easier to create as an alternative to the traditional K-12 public…