Ex-Iowa City school administrator gets West Des Moines job

Paul Bobek, who abruptly resigned in January as the Iowa City school district's chief financial officer, has been hired by the West Des Moines school district.

Bobek will take over as the suburban Des Moines district's chief financial officer July 1 at a salary of $126,580 annually, district spokeswoman Elaine Watkins-Miller wrote in an email message.

No reason was given for Bobek's resignation after more than nine years with the Iowa City school district, but it came after a couple of high-profile financial mistakes and an audit critical of some of the area's he oversaw.

Watkins-Miller said Bobek completed a series of interviews and the district conducted an “extensive background check.” The district also talked with his previous co-workers, a supervisor and auditors and reviewed past audit reports, she said.

“I am confident that Paul will do an outstanding job for the West Des Moines Community Schools, helping us meet our community's high standards for project management, fiscal responsibility and reporting,” West Des Moines schools Superintendent Peter Ansingh said in a news release.