New Grand Prairie ISD superintendent placed on paid leave, investigation opened

The Grand Prairie Independent School District has opened an investigation after placing its new superintendent on paid administrative leave during a special meeting of the school board on Wednesday night.

"I move that the board place Dr. Arredondo on paid administrative leave, effective immediately, in order to protect the district and Dr. Arredondo," Emily Liles said. Liles is the board secretary.

Superintendent Jorge Arredondo has been in Grand Prairie for less than three months, starting as the district leader over the summer on July 1.

On July 18, Arredondo spoke during his first meeting with the board.

"This has been a tremendous, tremendous, feeling to be able to get up early and come to work and be able to work with such a great team that I have here and meet the community, meet the parents," Arredondo said in the meeting. "Everybody here has just been amazing in terms of welcoming me and my family here to Grand Prairie."

Arredondo did not speak during Wednesday's meeting.

While Arredondo has not been publicly accused of any wrongdoing, the district said they decided to put him on leave "to protect the district and Dr. Arredondo" and that a third party would conduct an independent investigation.

The district didn't publicly reveal any details about the investigation. On Wednesday night, a board trustee described it as a "witch hunt."

"I believe we need more substance in this investigation," David Espinosa said. Espinosa is a trustee. He and trustee Gloria Carrillo voted against the motion Wednesday evening. "I believe this seems like a, witch hunt and driven by political motives."

While questions remain about the root of the investigation and a timeline for a final decision, school district officials stated they will not make further comments.

"That's the issue, transparency. That's the major issue," Ed Gray said. Gray lives in Grand Prairie and learned about the vote Wednesday night. He said he tried to be present during the meeting.

"The doors were totally locked, and they wouldn't let anyone in," Gray said.

Gray, among others, now questions the vetting and hiring process carried out by the school district.

"The first concern I have is that the search committee that employed the current superintendent only had one finalist in that search," Gray said. "I believe that nowhere, no time in America that we should have a search for something as important as this, to only have one person."

Other community leaders like Mary Dominguez Santini worry the decision could affect employee morale.

"This man went to the janitorial people, transportation, to the kitchen employees to let them know, 'I speak Spanish and am here to help you if you ever need anything'," Domiguez Santini said. "Grand Prairie District is 71 - 72% Hispanic. We have to be understanding of the cultures that are coming into our district."

With Arredondo on paid leave, the district appointed Deputy Superintendent of Business Operations Tracy Ray as acting superintendent.

“We believe all parties will be treated fairly with a high level of professionalism by the outside third-party law firm that is conducting the investigation," Board President Amber Moffitt said in a statement.

Arredondo is a longtime educator who most recently served as superintendent of the Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD (2019-2022) and as an assistant superintendent in the Houston ISD (2014-2019).

Arredondo left the Houston ISD for PSJA ISD the same year the TEA first tried to take over the Houston school district due to underperformance. After leaving PSJA, the district opened a forensic audit to look into how he was spending money.