DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa's largest school district has filed a lawsuit against the consulting firm it hired to assist in the recruitment of superintendent candidates. The lawsuit accuses JG Consulting of failing to appropriately vet Ian Roberts, who was arrested by immigration authorities last week.
Des Moines Public Schools contracted JG Consulting in 2022 to help with the leadership search that ultimately culminated in Roberts' hiring the following year. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials reported that the Guyana native was in the U.S. illegally with no work authorization. Federal prosecutors charged Roberts on Thursday with possessing several firearms while illegally in the United States.
The school district's complaint alleges breach of contract and negligence against JG Consulting, with the school board chair, Jackie Norris, emphasizing the aim is to recover taxpayer funds and mitigate reputational damage. The firm failed its duty to properly vet candidates. Ian Roberts should have never been presented as a finalist, Norris said.
The controversy has prompted protests from students, who have walked out of their classes in response to the alarming revelations about Roberts, who was previously viewed as a dedicated educator. Community members have sought to understand how someone who engaged positively with students could suddenly be at the center of such a scandal. The Des Moines school board expressed that it was a victim of deception throughout Roberts' term.
Roberts is currently in federal custody following his resignation as superintendent after the state education board revoked his license due to the legal issues surrounding his immigration status. Federal authorities indicated that there was a final removal order for Roberts from last year, and an immigration judge had denied any motions to reopen his case earlier this year.
The contract with JG Consulting outlined that they were responsible for various aspects of the hiring process, including candidate vetting and references. District officials noted that a background check raised flags about discrepancies in Roberts' resume, which claimed he held an unearned doctorate. Despite being enrolled in a doctoral program, the school confirmed he did not obtain the degree, casting further doubt on the hiring practices within the district.
In light of this incident, the accountability of consulting firms in educational hiring processes is under scrutiny, with school officials calling for stricter vetting and due diligence in the future.
