Des Moines Public Schools (DMPS) is suing JG Consulting for approving former superintendent Ian Roberts as a suitable and legal candidate for district superintendent in a background check, which led to his hiring. The district claims the firm was negligent and breached its contract through Roberts’ approval.
Roberts was arrested on September 26 and charged with being an illegal alien in possession of firearms. He resigned from his role four days after his arrest.
DMPS Board chair Jackie Norris stated the following about the lawsuit on Friday
“We are pursuing legal action, as allowed by law. This is about accountability. Taxpayer dollars were used, and we are seeking accountability.”
“The Des Moines School Board is also a victim of deception by Dr. Roberts, one on a growing list that includes our students and teachers, our parents and community, our elected officials and Iowa’s Board of Educational Examiners, and others,” Norris further said.
In response to the lawsuit and claims against the firm, attorney Josh Romero, who is representing the firm, referred to the failure of Roberts’ prior districts to discover his immigration status.
“It should be noted that Mr. Roberts has a record of high-quality leadership and accomplishments in Des Moines and in each of his prior positions in other school districts, in other states,” Romero stated. “Any discrepancy regarding his immigration status was not discovered in any prior placements, by any other consulting firm or any other board.”
According to The Associated Press, Roberts’ prior employment in public education consisted of serving in the roles of superintendent at Millcreek Township School District in Erie, Pennsylvania, network superintendent at St. Louis Public Schools, and both principal and teacher at Baltimore City Public Schools.
The US Department of Homeland Security laid out the criminal record of Roberts, going back nearly 30 years. A native of Guyana, he arrived in the US on a B-2 nonimmigrant visa, as “a visitor for pleasure.” Hereafter, he returned to the US and was eventually arrested for narcotics possession in 1996. Roberts received more gun-related charges in the following years.
Roberts reentered the US several times on a student visa, and eventually applied for a green card at least four times, all of which were rejected. Though he did file for employment authorization documents several times, and was approved.
