Some Sioux City people are circulating an online petition to get enough signatures to force the Sioux City School Board to provide better oversight of a top administrator.
The petition says there is a need for "formal evaluation of associate superintendent Angela Bemus……to correct a trajectory of embarrassment, dysfunction, and chaos, and to ensure the Board fulfills its duty of oversight.”
The petition was created on January 31.
Erin Webber-Dreeszen told Siouxland Public Media News she is the point person for a large group of current and former teachers and administrators, who are concerned that the school board, specifically President Jan George, is not properly executing oversight.
“I was asked to take on this representative role and I proudly do so to stand up for the staff affected by workplace dysfunction. We want to see accountability across the board,” Webber-Dreeszen said.
The petition is aiming to get 500 signatures, which is the threshold in Iowa to force the issue onto a board meeting agenda for consideration.
There has been some turmoil in the Sioux City School District superintendent position since July 2025, when Juan Cordova began working in that top post. He was placed on two leave of absences in August and November, before the school board accepted his resignation, which becomes effective on March 31.
Many weeks ago, the board directed longtime assistant superintendent Bemus to be acting superintendent. As they began work to name an interim superintendent for the period until finding a next superintendent by July 2027, Bemus two weeks ago said she did not want to be considered for the interim position.
Bemus said she feels she's not the appropriate person for the role and cannot serve the district and board in complete agreement under the current circumstances.
Bemus added that she has taken on extra responsibilities of superintendent, but has not been approached about a stipend for performing the additional duties.
Webber-Dreeszen praised Bemus for standing up for herself, but noted “Bemus asks teachers to do more and more with less and less every year. Now, her abandonment of leadership is what makes the petition necessary.”
On Friday, George said people are coming to an unsupportable conclusion in saying that Bemus has abandoned her leadership.
"She is still doing the job," he said.
