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https://www.kcrg.com/2025/09/27/iowa-department-education-releases- >statement-following-arrest-des-moines-public-schools-superintendent/
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 SaturdayAs special meeting was 7-0.
oWhile there is still much that we donAt know, what we do know is that Dr. >Roberts is currently unavailable to perform his duties as superintendent,o >board member Kimberly Martorano said.
This means Matt Smith, former associate superintendent, will continue as >interim superintendent until further notice.
Prior to SaturdayAs 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 osufficient context and >explanation of the situation to move forward in the hiring process.o
The district says it was not aware of a May 2024 order of removal against >Roberts, which required him to leave the United States.
oEverything the district has on file affirms that Dr. Roberts is a
citizen,o 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:
oThe 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 employerAs responsibility to affirm a personAs I-9 employment >eligibility verification, and the Department is reviewing the districtAs >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.