DES MOINES, Iowa — An Iowa senator has formally requested an audit of the Iowa Department of Education’s licensing and background check procedures in light of the September arrest of former Des Moines Public Schools Superintendent Ian Roberts.

Roberts is accused of being in the country illegally and was arrested after authorities say he fled from Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in Des Moines in late September. In the weeks since his arrest, Roberts has been indicted with “being an illegal alien in possession of firearms” and “false statement for employment.” Roberts has pleaded not guilty to both counts in the indictment.

According to federal court documents, when Roberts was taken into custody he was found with a loaded handgun and several more firearms were found in his home during the execution of a search warrant. Court records also claim that Roberts stated he was a US citizen when he applied for the superintendent position.

On Wednesday, State Senator Tony Bisignano (D), sent a letter to State Auditor Rob Sand formally requesting an audit of the Iowa Department of Education’s procedures for background checks and licensing.

Bisignano released the following statement about the request:

Des Moines Public Schools are taking an appropriate step by requesting an audit from the State Auditor’s office, but the responsibility for transparency extends beyond DMPS. Iowans deserve to understand how processes at the state level failed to identify this series of deceptions.

Ian Roberts was granted a license by the state Board of Education Examiners (BOEE), which operates under the authority of the Iowa Department of Education. I am hopeful that an audit of the Board’s background check and licensing procedures will provide necessary accountability and begin to restore public trust.

You can read the full letter below:

State Auditor Rob Sand confirmed that it had received the audit request and provided the following statement:

“The State Auditor’s Office received a qualifying request from a legislator this afternoon and, as a result, will perform procedures related to the licensing and background checks of educational practitioners conducted by the Iowa Department of Education and the Board of Educational Examiners. This request is unlike a request from legislators earlier this month to reaudit the Des Moines Public Schools, which is a governmental subdivision, and can only be reaudited at the request of an elected official or employee of the entity, or by petition from citizens per Chapter 11.6 of the Code of Iowa.”

DMPS has faced growing scrutiny over the hiring of Roberts and in response requested an audit from the state auditor’s office. The school board also voted earlier this month to take legal action against the consulting firm that was hired to search for candidates for the superintendent position, which ultimately led to Roberts assuming the role in 2023.