DES MOINES, Iowa (KCRG/KCCI) – The Des Moines Public School Board voted Saturday to place Superintendent Dr. Ian Roberts on administrative leave after he was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, on Friday.
The vote during Saturday’s special meeting was 7-0.
“While there is still much that we don’t know, what we do know is that Dr. Roberts is currently unavailable to perform his duties as superintendent,” board member Kimberly Martorano said.
This means Matt Smith, former associate superintendent, will continue as interim superintendent until further notice.
Prior to Saturday’s vote, the board told KCCI that they were aware of a previous gun charge Roberts received in Pennsylvania before he was hired. However, the district said Roberts provided “sufficient context and explanation of the situation to move forward in the hiring process.”
The district says it was not aware of a May 2024 order of removal against Roberts, which required him to leave the United States.
“Everything the district has on file affirms that Dr. Roberts is a citizen,” said board president Jackie Norris.
Roberts is currently being held in Woodbury County Jail in northwest Iowa.
Roberts was detained Friday morning, September 26th, for being in the country illegally and for being in possession of a loaded handgun. Federal law prohibits those in the country illegally from possessing weapons.
In the statement released on Saturday, The Iowa Department of Education said:
“The Iowa Department of Education is dedicated to supporting safe and healthy learning environments, and understands the need for transparent licensure information while following disclosure and investigation procedures.
Dr. Roberts stated that he was a U.S. citizen on the application for Administrator licensure under penalty of perjury. Per their standard process, the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners also conducted criminal history record checks with the Division of Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation prior to issuing the license. No deviations from the established licensure process were identified. It is the employer’s responsibility to affirm a person’s I-9 employment eligibility verification, and the Department is reviewing the district’s hiring procedures for verifying individuals are legally authorized to work in the United States.
The rule of law is essential, and all educators and staff must follow the law to preserve public trust. The Iowa Department of Education is committed to upholding rigorous licensure standards and supporting local educators and families in advancing student learning.”
You can find more information about Ian Roberts and his arrest on our website.
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