Section 281.37.4. Mediation.

The director of the department of education shall require that the executive director of the Iowa High School Athletic Association (hereinafter association) and the executive secretary of the Iowa Girls’ High School Athletic Union (hereinafter union) organizations recognized in 281—Chapter 36, or their designees, form a mediation team to meet with the complainant and representatives of other affected member schools. If the complaint involves conference alignment for athletic activities represented by only one of the organizations, only that organization shall be involved in the mediation. A copy of all materials filed with the director by the complainant member school shall be provided to the mediation team.

The mediation team shall meet with administrators or board members of schools potentially affected by changes in conference alignment related to the complaint. Schools shall send representatives who have knowledge of the impact of a conference realignment and full authority to respond on behalf of their member school. Factors to be weighed in reaching resolution will include, but not be limited to, school enrollment figures (current and projected), travel distances, comparability of instructional programs, traditional rivalries, number of existing and proposed schools in the conference, and comparability of athletic programs and other school-sponsored programs.