Des Moines Public Schools is suing the firm that conducted the search for former Superintendent Ian Roberts, who was recently arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and resigned from his position.  

JG Consulting was hired to facilitate the search for the district’s leader in 2023, which included conducting background checks.  

“The search firm failed in their duty to properly vet the candidates and Ian Roberts should have never been presented as a potential Superintendent,” said School Board Chair Jackie Norris. “JG Consulting’s contract required them to bring all known information of a positive or negative nature to the Board, and since that did not happen the Board will pursue aggressive legal action in accordance with the law.” 

ICE has alleged Roberts had removal orders from a judge in 2024 and a weapons charge in 2020. When agents sought to arrest him, ICE said Roberts fled the scene and, once he was caught, had $3,000 in cash, a loaded gun and a knife in his car.  

The school district says it thought Roberts was a U.S. citizen and was unaware of any immigration or qualification concerns. Roberts first came to the U.S. from Guyana in 1999 under a student visa and previously worked in education in Pennsylvania.  

The district says its contract with the consulting firm included “advertising, search, recruitment, application and resume review, public domain search, complete reference checks and presentation of qualified candidates,” along with conducting “comprehensive reference calls on each applicant to include the verification of all related employment experiences. JG Consulting will arrange for comprehensive criminal, credit, and background checks to be conducted by a third party.” 

The lawsuit alleges the consulting firm breached its contract for its failure to properly vet Roberts. The school wants a jury trial and seeks monetary compensation for reputational damage, superintendent pay and the cost of finding a replacement for the position.  

“This lawsuit won’t undo the hurt felt by those who have been impacted by our former superintendent,” said Norris. “The Board’s goal is to provide the facts necessary to firmly close this chapter and begin the process of healing and improving. This district is more than one person, it is 35,000 students, teachers and staff who work to provide an educational experience to help our kids find success.” 

The Hill has reached out to the firm for comment.