DES MOINES, Iowa — Several Iowa senators have requested an audit of the financial records of Des Moines Public Schools following the arrest of former Superintendent Ian Roberts.

On Wednesday, Iowa Senators Green, Gruenhagen and Evans sent a letter to State Auditor Rob Sand’s Office expressing their “alarm(ed) at the information coming to light regarding former Des Moines Public Schools Superintendent Ian Roberts.”

The letter states that during the Fiscal Year 2025, DMPS received more than $460 million for Des Moines metro-area students education by Iowa taxpayers. While in comparison, the Iowa Education Saving Account (ESA) program, is projected to cost the state more than $314 million for students state-wide.

“Given your continued interest in the education savings account program and its cost, we believe you and your office should be far more concerned about the hundreds of millions of dollars overseen by a superintendent with an ever-increasing list of deceptions and fraud. We are asking you to conduct an audit of the Des Moines Public Schools (DMPS) system and ensure the money invested by Iowa taxpayers into the education of students in this district is being spent and allocated where it is supposed to be,” a portion of the letter reads.

Former DMPS Superintendent Ian Roberts was taken into ICE custody in late September and received federal charges of possessing firearms while in the U.S. illegally in early October.

In the weeks since his detainment, information regarding Roberts’ legal status and education claims have prompted members of the community to express concerns with DMPS.

Read the full letter below: