Uvalde CISD places Robb Elementary School Principal on paid administrative leave

SAN ANTONIO (KTSA News) — She’s accused of not properly addressing security problems at Robb Elementary School prior to the massacre in which 19 students and 2 teachers were killed by a 19 year old gunman and as of Monday, the Principal at the school has been placed on administrative leave.

The attorney for Mandy Gutierrez confirmed his client’s suspension in a statement to the Associated Press Monday but did not comment on the matter.

The move comes after a Texas legislative panel report blamed Gutierrez and an assistant for failing to fix a lock on the door the shooter used to enter Robb Elementary May 24th.

The report also found she did not use to school’s intercom to communicate that the school was on lockdown. An alert was sent out via text message but several teachers weren’t carrying their phones due to the school’s poor wireless internet signal.

Gutierrez has been with the Uvalde CISD for many years, serving as Vice Principal and teaching 4th grade. This was her first year as Principal at Robb Elementary.

She is now the second school district to be suspended following the school shooting.

Uvalde CISD Police Chief Pete Arredondo was placed on administrative leave last month.

There has been a huge amount of public outcry demanding Arredondo be fired. The school board was supposed to terminate Arredondo at a special meeting July 23 but that meeting was canceled at the request of Arredondo’s attorney. He says he requested the delay so he and the board can discuss Arredondo’s due process requirements.

The decision on Arredondo’s termination will take place at a later date, although there has been no indication as to when that will be.