State Auditor Says Iowa Education Department Refused Records Request Tied to Former DMPS Employee

Our Driftless region deserves more than postcards — it deserves a watchdog. Be that support. DES MOINES 一 Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand on Tuesday accused the Iowa Department of Education of refusing to cooperate with an investigation tied to the licensing and background check process surrounding former Des Moines Public Schools employee Ian Roberts, while also outlining findings from a separate re-audit that identified questionable spending and undisclosed conflicts of interest involving Roberts. At a news conference announcing the release of two reports, Sand said one investigation was prompted by a request from State Senator Tony Bisignano under Iowa Code Chapter 11.5C and focused on the Department of Education and the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners' handling of Roberts' licensing and background checks. The second report stemmed from a request by Des Moines Public Schools to examine Roberts' financial transactions and spending practices. Sand said the Department of Education "refused to provide us with any records related to the licensing process for Ian Roberts," preventing auditors from determining whether state laws were followed or whether taxpayer resources were used appropriately. "These background checks and licensing processes are obviously there to protect students, ensure proper credentials, and maintain public trust," Sand said. He said the department's refusal to provide documents undermined legislative oversight and public transparency. "The auditor's office can't tell you whether or not laws are being followed or whether or not taxpayer resources were spent responsibly here because the administration refused to answer our questions or provide any information," Sand said. Sand repeatedly criticized the administration of Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds, tying the dispute to Senate File 478, a law he has previously criticized for limiting the auditor's access to government records. He described the measure as "Iowa's biggest pro-corruption law ever" and argued it was intended to create barriers to the auditor's work. According to Sand, the Department of Education justified withholding records by arguing that an additional engagement letter was necessary before records could be shared. Sand rejected that rationale, saying the state already has an annual engagement agreement with the auditor's office and that neither state law nor auditing standards require separate agreements for individual audits. "Our position, and this is not just law, but also in the auditing standards, as well as something that the Iowa Supreme Court has stated, is that having any engagement letter whatsoever is unnecessary," Sand said. He said state agencies were directed not to cooperate with his office through guidance issued by Iowa Department of Management Director Kraig Paulsen. Sand alleged Paulsen instructed agencies to violate Chapter 11 of Iowa law, which requires state departments to cooperate with the auditor's office. Sand also criticized what he described as shifting explanations from the Department of Education during the audit process. He said the demand for additional engagement letters did not arise immediately after records were requested but emerged later in communications with the department. "It was not their initial response, which I think would suggest to most people who've worked in an office before that they thought that they should give us the information and then someone else came along and said we don't want you to do that," Sand said. The auditor said his office requested records involving background check procedures, fees connected to those checks, contracts with third-party vendors and licensing procedures generally, including matters specifically related to Roberts. Because the records were not produced, Sand said auditors could not determine what additional documentation may have existed. "We don't know what they have because we didn't get responses," he said. Sand also referenced ongoing litigation involving Des Moines Public Schools and a vendor connected to background checks and said his office typically avoids intervening in matters already in court. During the news conference, Sand also said Roberts had been subject to a deportation order issued during the Biden administration. "There was a pending order for deportation that was issued for Ian Roberts under the Biden administration," Sand said. "I think most reasonable people should be agreeing that there were legitimate problems and that he was due to be deported." The second report released Thursday focused on Roberts' conduct while employed by Des Moines Public Schools. Sand said auditors identified "thousands of dollars in questionable reimbursements and disbursements," including 38 procurement card purchases he said were improper or unsupported, totaling more than $2,000. More significantly, Sand said auditors uncovered what he described as two undisclosed conflicts of interest involving Roberts and a company called Lively Paradox. According to Sand, Roberts had both a professional and personal relationship with the company's owner but failed to disclose those relationships while steering district contracts to the business. "He had a preexisting professional relationship with the owner of a company called Lively Paradox, as well as a close and allegedly amorous personal relationship with that individual," Sand said. Sand alleged Roberts directed more than $6,000 in public funds to the company without competitive bidding. The auditor also accused Roberts of bypassing district oversight procedures. Sand said the district's chief financial officer became aware of Roberts' professional relationship with the company owner, after which Roberts allegedly waited until the CFO was out of the country before advancing a contract for approval through another official. "By waiting for that, he was demonstrating the fact that he knew that he shouldn't be doing this and waited for the opportunity to do it instead," Sand said. Sand said Des Moines Public Schools did not have a formal conflict-of-interest policy covering professional or personal relationships at the time of the transactions. He called the absence of such a policy unethical and contrary to common sense. "They have since updated that policy, which is at least an improvement at this point," he said. Sand said auditors recommended the district adopt clearer disclosure requirements for both professional and personal conflicts of interest. He cited Roberts' professional ties to Lively Paradox, including co-authoring two books with the company's owner and appearing on the company's website. "If you're steering public money to a company when you're on their website and you've co-authored books with the owner of that company, you shouldn't be doing that," Sand said. He also said employees should be required to disclose personal relationships that could influence contracting decisions. "We would probably think of that as deceptive. We would probably think of that as unethical. We would probably think of that as a fireable offense," Sand said. The auditor said district officials were given an opportunity to review and respond to the re-audit findings before publication, which is standard practice. Sand said investigations into consultant relationships and outside contractors can occur during routine audits, though specific areas vary by audit. He added that disclosure and competitive bidding procedures are important safeguards against misuse of taxpayer funds. "None of this stuff was bid out," Sand said. "It was just Ian Roberts saying, 'I want this business to go to this one person.'" Be the first to know! Sign up for the free newsletter and unlock exclusive updates, breaking news, and tips from around the community.