The Uvalde school board emerged from a three-hour closed session on Monday night to direct Superintendent Hal Harrell to complete a number of tasks, including an outside review of Harrell’s actions during a mass shooting at Robb Elementary that left 19 children and 2 teachers dead.

Monday night was the first of two grievance hearings the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District’s board of trustees has scheduled this week. Monday night’s meeting took up complaints against Harrell. Wednesday night, the board will take up the fate of Police Chief Pete Arredondo, who was placed on administrative leave in June. 

What You Need To Know

  • Uvalde school board declined to fire Superintendent Hal Harrell on Monday night

  • Community members filed four grievances against Harrell

  • The board did direct Harrell to complete three tasks related to Robb Elementary, including an outside review of Harrell's actions

  • Grievances can be appealed to the commissioner of education

Four grievances, none posted, were filed against Harrell, who has worked in the Uvalde school district for 30 years. Several speakers at last night’s meeting called for Harrell’s removal as superintendent.

Diana Ovedo-Karau, a former school district employee, told trustees the fact Harrell is a nice man should not cloud their opinions.

“We need to remember that this is not personal. This is not a personal vendetta or attack against Dr. Harrell,” Ovedo-Kaura said during public comments. “You need to specifically be able to separate the personal from the professional. You sit in those seats with a responsibility to act based on the professional performance of an employee in the school district.”

Other speakers urged accountability for the district personnel. The final speaker, Michele Prouty, said some families who suffered losses at Robb in May were still too traumatized to address the school board.

“The devastation that this tragedy has caused goes beyond … you guys can’t even fathom it,” Prouty said. “So, I just want you to think about that and really try to put yourself in their shoes. I mean, there’s no way that you really can, but you can do the right thing.”

Returning from a closed session, trustee Javier Torres read a motion into the record that would grant part — and reject part — of the grievances:

  • The board will coordinate with the superintendent in the current systemic review of the UCISD police department being conducted by outside investigator James McLaughlin. McLaughlin also has reviewed allegations of misconduct in the Austin Police Department;
  • The board also has directed Harrell to bring to the board of trustees the names or organizations that could provide a review of UCISD administrative practices regarding accountability. That accountability would appear to be tied to the actions of administrators during the mass shooting at Robb Elementary in May; and
  • The board also directed Harrell to schedule a board town hall meeting to discuss any continuing concerns and issues related to the start of the 2022-23 school year, before the school year starts on Sept. 6.

The board approved unanimously the motion. The grievance process gives those who filed a grievance 45 days to file an appeal to Commissioner Mike Morath if they want further review of their complaints.