Des Moines Public Schools Settles Lawsuit With Search Firm Over Ian Roberts Hiring

Des Moines Public Schools Settles Lawsuit With Search Firm Over Ian Roberts Hiring

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Des Moines Public Schools and JG Consulting settle legal battle

Des Moines Public Schools and the Texas-based search firm JG Consulting have reached a settlement to end a legal battle over the hiring of former superintendent Ian Roberts, according to a court filing from Nov. 9.

The settlement agreement cancels all scheduled hearings between the district and the consulting firm, IPR News reported. While the filing confirms the agreement, the specific financial or operational terms of the settlement remain undisclosed.

Closing documents for the case are expected to be submitted by Dec. 9.

A dispute over vetting and responsibility

The litigation began in September 2025, shortly after federal authorities arrested Roberts. At that time, the district filed a lawsuit against JG Consulting, alleging breach of contract and negligence. The school district argued that the firm failed in its duty to properly vet candidates during the national search for a new leader.

“The search firm failed in their duty to properly vet the candidates and Dr. Roberts should have never been presented as a potential superintendent,” Jackie Norris, the school board chair at the time, said during a board meeting on Oct. 3, 2025, as reported by IPR News.

JG Consulting responded with a countersuit, claiming the district’s public statements had defamed the firm. The consulting company maintained that verifying immigration and work status was not part of its contractual scope. According to the countersuit, the legal obligation to perform I-9 or E-Verify checks falls on the employer—the district—rather than a third-party search firm, which the company noted is legally prohibited from conducting such verifications on non-employees.

James Guerra, CEO of JG Consulting, told IPR News that while the parties are still finalizing the settlement, the firm maintains that the responsibility for Roberts’ actions lies with him personally. “All parties have agreed that the criminal actions of Mr. Roberts are for him to own, not one of us as an entity,” Guerra said.

JG Consulting won the search through a low bid while resume irregularities emerged

The search for a successor to Tom Ahart in 2023 brought JG Consulting into the spotlight. Out of 11 bidding firms, JG Consulting was selected, partly due to a $40,000 bid that was significantly lower than the next top competitor, which quoted $99,000, according to KCCI News.

Des Moines Public Schools, JG Consulting settle lawsuit over Ian Roberts' vetting
Photo: kcci.com

A district-initiated review by a local law firm uncovered several irregularities regarding Roberts’ credentials. KCCI News reported that the review found different versions of Roberts’ resume.

One version provided to the school board suggested he held a doctorate from Morgan State University, but a hard copy presented during his in-person interview contained a three-letter discrepancy: “abd,” signifying “all but dissertation.” This indicates that while coursework was completed, the candidate had not actually defended a dissertation. The review further suggested the Morgan State transcript was likely forged.

The hiring process was also marked by specific connections, including ties to a former school board member and Roberts’ indirect roles as a consultant, according to the findings reported by KCCI News.

Legal consequences for Ian Roberts

The fallout from the hiring error has moved from civil litigation to criminal sentencing. Ian Roberts, a native of Guyana, was found to have been working in the United States without authorization at the time of his arrest in September 2025. It was later revealed that an immigration judge had already issued an order for his removal from the country in May 2024.

Des Moines Public Schools settles with consulting firm that helped hire Ian Roberts

In May, Roberts was sentenced to two years in federal prison. The sentence followed his guilty plea to making a false statement for employment and possessing firearms without legal status. Upon the completion of his prison term, Roberts is expected to be deported to Guyana.

The resolution of the lawsuit between the district and the search firm leaves the question of administrative accountability settled in court, but the impact on the district’s leadership stability remains a matter of public record.

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