Daily Staff Writer

Michael Simonson, former professor of curriculum and instruction at Iowa State, made a final effort last month to appeal a 1997 decision that terminated his employment.

Simonson appealed his case to Story County District Court Dec. 18.

Simonson was accused of sexual harassment and misconduct by three former ISU students in the College of Education.

Following an administrative hearing in late 1997, Administrative Law Judge Donald Bohlken’s proposed decision stated there was reasonable ground to believe that the charges against [Simonson] “are true and support the proposed action of terminating his employment.”

Simonson appealed the judge’s decision to the Iowa State Board of Regents, but the board upheld the original decision to dismiss him.

He was officially dismissed from his position at ISU in August, after ISU President Martin Jischke released a written statement concurring with Bohlken’s.

The filing to Story County District Court is Simonson’s final chance for appeal.

Simonson recently sold his Ames home and moved to Florida, according to an article in The Tribune.

The university has filed a motion to dismiss Simonson’s appeal on the grounds that he no longer resides in Story County.