A reaudit of the Des Moines school district’s finances revealed some areas in which the district needs to strengthen guidelines to avoid conflict-of-interest situations and questionable financial transactions.

In October 2025, the district asked the Iowa state auditor to review the district’s spending practices after former Des Moines superintendent Ian Roberts was arrested by federal immigration officials the previous month. 

After Roberts’ arrest, it was revealed that he had asked the district to pay for a consulting contract with a company that marketed Roberts as a consultant and speaker. The contract was not approved but Roberts did hire the firm to lead a team-building exercise.

The district specifically asked the auditor to investigate concerns during the period Roberts was superintendent, July 1, 2023 through Sept. 25, 2025.

The district has received the reaudit, which was released to the public today, and announced steps it is taking in response to the findings. They are:

• A revision of the district’s conflict-of-interest policy for employees to include required annual disclosure of actual or potential conflicts from administrators and other personnel. All district employees will be required to complete annual conflict-of-interest training. The policy revision is in response to Roberts’ use of an outside firm with which he did business.
• An update to the district’s travel reimbursement policy on rideshares. The revision is in response to a $46.79 reimbursement to Roberts for a Lyft transaction.
•  A more explicitly stated prohibition of use of district funds for donations to nonprofit groups. The reaudit uncovered four instances in which a total of $2,160 in district funds were donated to nonprofits. The prohibition will be reinforced through training.

“While these findings may be considered relatively minor given the size and scope of our school district’s operations, we are determined to continue doing everything possible to adhere to all regulations, especially any involving the use of taxpayer and public money,” said Kim Martorano, school board chair, in a news release.

Roberts has pleaded guilty to federal charges of being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm and making false statements for employment. Roberts, 55, is scheduled to be sentenced on May 29 and faces up to 20 years in prison.