DES MOINES, Iowa — New details are emerging about the hiring and onboarding process of former Des Moines Public Schools Superintendent Ian Roberts, who was taken into custody by immigration enforcement officers in late September and later transferred to federal custody on gun-related charges.
Public records and application materials obtained by Local 5 raise questions about how thoroughly Roberts’ credentials were vetted before the school board approved his contract.
When the district announced Roberts as its next superintendent in May 2023, leaders described the decision as the result of a “comprehensive national search.” However, emails and internal documents reveal inconsistencies in his résumé and edits made to official communications before his hiring announcement…