Des Moines bond referendum passes despite Ian Roberts case

DES MOINES, Iowa (Gray Media Iowa State Capital Bureau) -- Des Moines voters overwhelmingly have approved a scaled-back district improvement plan weeks after authorities arrested former superintendent Ian Roberts. Unofficial results show that the district’s $265 million proposal, which is called “The Reimagining Education” plan, passed with 74% of the vote.

The measure needed 60% for approval.

“Reimagining Education”

The plan -- originally $500 million before public pushback about the cost -- would modernize the state’s largest district of 30,000 students following declining state taxpayer support and shrinking enrollment.

The money would help create “signature schools,” which will offer a specialized curriculum such as arts, engineering, and health sciences.

Full-day preschool and day care, smaller classroom sizes, and new classrooms for Montessori programs are also included in the plans.

Roberts’ investigation

Approval of the bond referedum marked a significant success for the school board and district amid speculation that voters might reject it because of the ongoing legal investigation into the former superintendent and failures in the hiring process to uncover relevant facts about Roberts’ background.

In September, federal authorities arrested Roberts, a native of Guyana, for refusing to leave the country despite an immigration judge’s 2024 deportation order.

They later charged Roberts with illegally possessing weapons. Subsequent investigations found that Roberts lied about his academic background and failed to diclose his previous drug and weapons charges, according to the school board.

Roberts resigned his position before the school board could terminate him. He remains in federal custody.