The Des Moines School Board plans to move forward with a lawsuit against JG Consulting, the superintendent search firm that helped the district find and vet potential candidates and chose its now former Superintendent Ian Roberts.

Roberts, a native of Guyana, was hired by the school board in 2023 after the firm conducted a closed, nationwide search to replace former Superintendent Tom Ahart. He was much revered as the first person of color to lead the state's largest and most diverse school district.

But since his arrest by immigration officials Sept. 26, Roberts' background and DMPS hiring practices have come under scrutiny. Roberts was not authorized to work in the U.S. when he was hired; a federal complaint filed against him Thursday said he hasn't been allowed to work in the country

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