DES MOINES, Iowa (Gray Media Iowa State Capitol Bureau) -- The chair of the Des Moines School Board says that Ian Roberts, the former superintendent of the district once championed as an historic hire, deceived the community about his background.

The acknowledgement causes further challenges for the district that had made Roberts, the district’s first superintendent of color, a prominent voice in a video that it has been using to build support for its “Reimagining Education” plan.

The $265 million plan, which provided a guideline to redevelop career programs, expand preschool, and upgrade facilities for its 30,000 students, goes before voters in a referendum on November 4th.

The campaign included Roberts as he explained the future for the district.

Roberts, a native of Guyana, has been

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