Section 281.61.7. Governance and leadership of the center.

The center shall be governed in the following manner.

         61.7(1) Director and other personnel. The center shall have a director who shall be an employee of the host referred to in rule 281—61.1(256). The director of the department of education or the director’s designee, in consultation with the host and the advisory council, shall select, determine the compensation of, and annually evaluate the director of the center.

            a.               Responsibilities of the director of the center will include the following:

             (1)             Enacting the priorities of the reading research center, as defined by the department;

             (2)             Achieving the Iowa reading research center’s mission and purpose;

             (3)             Directing the center’s budget;

             (4)             Managing the center’s staff;

             (5)             Managing and overseeing the request for proposal (RFP) or contracting process or both to enact priorities of the center;

             (6)             Providing oversight and management of all contracts and projects initiated by the center;

             (7)             Establishing models for an intensive summer literacy program replicable in Iowa schools;

             (8)             Disseminating literacy research and its application; and

             (9)             Submitting required reports to the department and the general assembly.

            b.               The center may employ such other personnel as may be necessary to fulfill its responsibilities, upon approval of such positions by the director of the department of education.

         61.7(2) Advisory council. When setting priorities for the center, the department of education shall seek advice and assistance from an advisory council. The advisory council shall establish its bylaws and shall govern itself by the following paragraphs:

            a.               The advisory council shall consist of representatives of the department, school districts, area education agencies, accredited nonpublic schools, institutions of higher education, organizations representing reading and literacy teachers, community-based nonprofit organizations that are focused on literacy, statewide literacy organizations, and parents. Members who offer other perspectives may be appointed. Members may serve in more than one role. Members shall be appointed by the director of the department of education or the director’s designee. Actual expenses for members of the advisory council may be assumed by the reading research center.

            b.               The advisory council shall recommend and continually review center priorities, which shall be consistent with these rules. The advisory council shall annually submit to the department a recommended set of projects and priorities for the reading research center.

            c.               The advisory council shall provide input to the director of the department on the desired qualifications for the position of director of the reading research center.

            d.               The advisory council shall advise and assist the center in preparing the annual report required by rule 281—61.9(256).

            e.               The advisory council shall foster collaboration across the Iowa reading research and evaluation community and serve as a facilitator in identifying additional research needs and ways to apply research to practice in Iowa schools and communities.

            f.                The advisory council shall stay abreast of emerging trends, research, and effective literacy practices.

            g.               The advisory council shall assist the director of the center in reviewing proposals for quality, viability, and statewide impact.

            h.               Meetings of the advisory council are public meetings subject to statutory open meetings requirements.

         61.7(3) Use of advisory council recommendations. The department shall consider the priorities established by its advisory council in determining which projects or activities to direct the center to enact, consistent with these rules and with the center’s funding.

         61.7(4) Contracts and awards. In the furtherance of its work, the center may contract with other entities or may make awards by competitive bid. The rules in this chapter shall be a term of any contract or award under this subrule. Any product produced pursuant to a contract or award shall be subject to these rules, including subrule 61.6(4).

[ARC 0475C, IAB 11/28/12, effective 1/2/13]