The Des Moines School Board is convening today (Fri) to consider legal action related to the district’s former superintendent who faces newly-filed federal gun charges and a deportation order issued last year, under the Biden administration. Court records indicate Ian Roberts lost his authorization to work in the United States two and a half years before he was hired in mid-2023 to lead Iowa’s largest school district.
According to our partners at Radio Iowa, Des Moines School Board President Jackie Norris says the board will review the process used to hire Roberts and consider how to recoup damages from those who contributed to the district’s current situation. Norris is also a candidate for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate. The district hired a consulting firm that recommended Roberts in 2023 and another company conducted a background check.
