DES MOINES, Iowa — The Des Moines School Board will hold a special session Monday afternoon to address new information following the revocation of Des Moines Public School Superintendent Dr. Ian Roberts’ license by the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners.

Dr. Roberts was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Friday morning and is being held in the Woodbury County Jail in Sioux City, Iowa, according to online I.C.E. detainee records.

On Saturday, the Des Moines School Board met and placed Dr. Roberts on paid administrative leave. Monday morning, the school district said the revocation of his education license forces the board to take further action.

“Over the weekend, the board placed the superintendent on administrative leave which is consistent with his contract and district policies. This morning the school district learned that the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners has officially revoked Dr. Roberts’ education license to practice in the state of Iowa. The School Board is scheduled to take action to place Dr. Roberts on unpaid administrative leave retroactive to the BOEE’s decision. This action is required by law,” an e-mail from Des Moines Public Schools stated.

School Board Chair Jackie Norris said, “New information and confirmed facts will continue to inform our decisions as we develop a path forward. Two things can be true at the same time – Dr. Roberts was an effective and well-respected leader and there are serious questions related to his citizenship and ability to legally perform his duties as superintendent.”

Norris also said, “We hope to hear from Dr. Roberts, but in the interim, we must make decisions that are fact-based, legally sound, and in the best interest of our students, staff and families.”

The Des Moines School Board will hold the special session at 4:45 p.m. Monday at Central Campus, 1800 Grand Avenue in Des Moines.

A press release from the Department of Homeland Security said Dr. Roberts was detained after fleeing from officers on September 26th . It claimed he had a loaded gun, a hunting knife, and $3,000 in cash in his possession when he was detained.

The release also said that Dr. Roberts was given a final order of removal by an immigration judge back in May of 2024 and had no work authorization in the U.S.

DHS said that Dr. Roberts had a previous gun charge from 2020.