Ian Roberts, superintendent of the Des Moines, Iowa, public school system, was arrested by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Friday. Photo courtesy of ICE.
Sept. 30 (UPI) -- Iowa formally revoked the license of the Des Moines schools superintendent who was picked up by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and switched his status from paid to unpaid leave.
The Des Moines Public School Board had placed Ian Roberts on paid administrative leave. Monday morning, it learned that the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners had revoked Roberts' license to practice in the state, which meant that the local board had to put him on unpaid leave, retroactive to the state board's decision, a press release said.
"New information and confirmed facts will continue to inform our decisions as we develop a path forward," said Jackie Norris, chair of the Des Moines Public Schools Board. "Two things can be true at the same time - Dr. Roberts was an effective and well-respected leader and there are serious questions related to his citizenship and ability to legally perform his duties as superintendent."
During a news conference later that day, attorney Alfredo Parrish said that Roberts had submitted his immediate resignation to the local school board, reported the Des Moines Register. Parrish said that Roberts, his client, does not want to be a distraction while he challenges efforts to deport him in court.
