The US Justice Department will investigate whether the Des Moines school district has prioritized race-based hiring practices rather than evaluating job applicants based on merit. Radio Iowa reports that announcement came amid yesterday’s (Sept. 29) news that Des Moines superintendent Ian Roberts — detained by immigration agents Friday — had submitted his resignation and the Des Moines School Board met last night (Sept. 29) to accept it. School Board President Jackie Norris says it’s the right decision given the circumstances. Roberts worked in schools in at least four other states over the past 20 years and Maryland election officials say Roberts was registered to vote in that state for the past nine years, but had not voted.
