Des Moines, IA -- Today, Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand held a press conference at the Iowa State Capitol to address what must happen for his office to legally audit the finances of Des Moines Public Schools (DMPS).
The press conference follows a request from three Republican State Senators, Jesse Green of Boone, Kerry Gruenhagen of Walcott, and Lynn Evans of Aurelia, who asked Sand to audit DMPS after the arrest of former superintendent Ian Roberts. Roberts is currently in federal custody on weapons charges and is accused of being in the country illegally.
Sand says that the law makers request was illegal and a request needs a from a council member, a employee of DMPS or a petition of at least 100 people living in the school district. Until such a request is received, Sand said his office is unable to initiate an audit.
“Anyone who is a DMPS employee right now can email info@aos.iowa.gov from their personal email, show us they are an employee of Des Moines Public Schools, and that is enough for us to initiate an audit,” said Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand.
Sand also emphasized that DMPS, like all public school districts in Iowa, is audited annually. His office is prepared to conduct a special audit if a qualifying request is submitted.
“I will also emphasize that we would never, ever disclose to anyone who it is that makes a request,” Sand added. “We just don’t do that. We want people who are whistleblowers, who want accountability, who want transparency, to know that they can make that request without worrying that people will find out they are the ones who made it.”