Glenwood Resource Center Superintendent Jerry Rea Fired

Glenwood Resource Center Superintendent Dr. Jerry Rea was fired on Monday amid a Department of Justice investigation into alleged civil rights violations at the state-managed facility for individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Rea, who had been on administrative leave since early December, was notified of his termination in a letter from Richard Shults, division administrator for the Iowa Department of Human Services.

“This action is being taken as a result of a mounting list of disregard for policies and procedures,” Shults said in the letter.
Rea was given notice “to vacate the premises no later than 30 days from today” and was directed not to be on areas of the campus where residents are served or where administrative services are delivered.

According to a letter sent in November from an assistant attorney general representing the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division to Gov. Kim Reynolds, federal attorneys are investigating four areas - allegations of “harmful” human experiments performed on residents; inadequate medical care and nutrition; needless restraint practices; and incidents that resulted in injury to residents.

Marsha Edgington, superintendent at the Woodward Resource Center, has been named the interim superintendent at the GRC.