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Iowa’s largest school district has revised its conflict-of-interest policy following an audit that confirmed its former superintendent, Ian Roberts, awarded district business to a consulting firm he was affiliated with, the district announced Tuesday.
The state audit, requested by Des Moines Public Schools in October, verified earlier reporting by The Associated Press that Roberts had directed district funds to Lively Paradox, a Kansas City-based consulting firm that marketed him as a consultant and speaker.
Roberts, who was detained by federal immigration authorities on September 26, has since pleaded guilty to falsely claiming U.S. citizenship on a federal form and illegally possessing firearms. His arrest stunned the Des Moines community and brought national attention to his history of criminal charges and falsified credentials. Roberts faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, with sentencing scheduled for May 29.
According to the audit, Roberts bypassed normal procurement processes to approve $6,476 in consulting and travel expenses to Lively Paradox. This occurred despite district finance officials previously warning Roberts about the conflict of interest when he initially proposed a larger contract with the firm that would have required school board approval.
“The district’s chief financial officer said he did not think Dr. Roberts would propose using Lively Paradox again after being declined the first time,” the state audit noted. District representatives told investigators that when the payment was approved, the CFO was out of the country, and another finance official signed off unaware of the conflict.
In response to the audit findings, the district has implemented a more robust conflict-of-interest policy. Kim Martorano, chair of the Des Moines School Board, said in a statement that administrators will now be required to disclose annually any “actual or potential conflicts,” a practice that wasn’t previously mandated.
The AP’s investigation revealed a pattern of Roberts recommending Lively Paradox to school districts where he held leadership positions. Records obtained through public information requests showed Roberts regularly introduced the firm’s founder, Nicole Price, to colleagues who oversaw professional development. Their professional relationship began approximately a decade ago after a chance meeting at an airport.
At Aspire Public Schools, where Roberts previously served as an administrator, records show payments to Price totaling approximately $46,000 for services and expenses between December 2018 and December 2019. During his three-year tenure as superintendent at Millcreek Township School District before moving to Des Moines in 2023, the district paid Lively Paradox just over $1,700, though only for expenses as Price provided training services pro bono.
Email records indicate Roberts acknowledged potential concerns about the relationship, writing to Millcreek colleagues that he would use “some of my co-author and co-presenter chips” to convince Price to provide training for free. “I have been thinking about ways to make this case to her in light of the optics of her contracting with the district for a financial benefit, given the fact that we have partnered in the past,” he wrote in April 2021.
The audit also identified inappropriate use of district funds for donations, including $1,200 for tables at an Iowa Juneteenth event, $600 for tables at a Habitat for Humanity luncheon, and additional donations to Des Moines and Urbandale business and chamber associations.
A district spokesperson confirmed that policies were updated last fall to prohibit such use of school funds. Martorano emphasized that 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.”
The revelations come as the district continues to address the fallout from Roberts’ brief but controversial tenure as superintendent, which ended abruptly with his arrest and subsequent resignation.
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10 Comments
This is a troubling case of abuse of power and conflict of interest. It’s good to see the district taking steps to tighten their policies and prevent such misconduct in the future. Oversight and accountability are crucial to maintaining public trust.
It’s concerning to see a school superintendent engaging in self-dealing and ignoring warnings about conflicts of interest. Strengthening procurement policies and oversight is a prudent move to protect taxpayer money and student interests.
This is a troubling case of abuse of power and misuse of public funds. I’m glad to see the district taking steps to tighten its conflict-of-interest policies and procurement processes. Maintaining transparency and accountability should be a top priority for all public institutions.
It’s concerning to see a school superintendent engaging in self-dealing and ignoring warnings about conflicts of interest. Strengthening ethical guidelines and oversight mechanisms is crucial to protecting taxpayer resources and upholding public trust. I hope this serves as a wake-up call for other districts to review their policies.
The former superintendent’s actions are clearly unethical and a violation of his public duty. I’m glad the district is taking proactive steps to revise its policies and procedures to prevent such conflicts of interest in the future. Maintaining high ethical standards is essential for public institutions.
Falsifying credentials and misusing public funds are serious ethical breaches. I hope the former superintendent is held fully accountable through the legal system. School districts must have robust safeguards against this kind of behavior.
Redirecting public funds to a personal consulting firm is a clear abuse of authority. I’m glad the district conducted a thorough audit and is now taking steps to prevent such conflicts in the future. Ethical leadership should be a top priority for public schools.
This is a concerning breach of trust by a public official. Strengthening conflict-of-interest rules and procurement processes is a wise move to safeguard taxpayer funds and ensure the district operates with transparency and integrity. Accountability is crucial in these situations.
This case highlights the importance of strong financial controls and conflict-of-interest policies in public institutions. Kudos to the district for taking swift action to investigate and address the issues. Transparency is key to maintaining public trust.
It’s disappointing to see a school leader engaging in such misconduct. Proper oversight and robust financial controls are essential to protecting public resources and maintaining public confidence. I hope this serves as a wake-up call for other districts to review their policies.