Uvalde update: Principal of Robb Elementary School is suspended

• Mandy Gutierrez, principal of Robb Elementary School, has been suspended.
• Officials find sensitive information about her work on security issues at the school.
• She was suspended with pay.

DID SHE PUT CHILDREN AT RISK? Mandy Gutierrez, principal of Robb Elementary School, was suspended as authorities continue their investigation into the Uvalde massacre and find sensitive information about her work on security issues at the school where the deadly shooting occurred in May.

Ricardo Cedillo, Mandy Gutiérrez’s lawyer, confirmed that, on Monday, July 25, the Uvalde School District suspended the Robb Elementary School principal. As of now, she will still receive her salary.

Robb Elementary School principal suspended

District officials have declined to comment on Gutierrez’s suspension or the consequences it could bring, but ABC News reported that a special legislative investigation into the May 24 massacre at the school found sensitive information.

According to the investigation, Gutiérrez knew about the security issues at the school before Salvador Ramos entered the premises and killed 19 students and two teachers. It also appears that she had not addressed those issues.

Mandy Gutiérrez is suspended with pay

Gutiérrez’s lawyer told the media that his client had been suspended with pay. No further details were given about what the reason was or how long the Robb Elementary School principal would be suspended.

Gutiérrez is not the only one who has had to leave her post. Peter Arredondo, who served as the school district’s chief of police, is still on administrative leave, albeit unpaid in his case. Additionally, the Uvalde School District has recommended that he be permanently fired.

Failure after failure

After the massacre at the Uvalde elementary school, more and more information and videos have emerged that pointed to a deficient police response. All eyes fell on Pete Arredondo, who failed to act while children and teachers were still be in danger.

Almost two months after the tragic massacre, the families of the victims have given the school board an ultimatum. They believe that firing Arredondo is no longer enough. In fact, they demand the resignation of the superintendent and the entire school board, according to CNN.

Why haven’t they taken responsibility for their mistakes yet?

Even so, on Monday night, a school board meeting was held in which they announced that the 2022-2023 school year would begin on September 6 and that they would make the necessary security improvements in the schools beforehand. They will also offer emotional and social support services.

“You care more about yourselves than our children,” Brett Cross, father of Uziyah Garcia, who was killed in the shooting, told the board. “Why haven’t they taken responsibility for their mistakes yet? Can any of you look me in the eye and say, ‘Look, we screwed up?’”