Jul 25, 2022 - Politics & Policy

Uvalde school principal placed on administrative leave

Rebecca Falconer

President Joe Biden embraces Mandy Gutierrez, the Priciple of Robb Elementary School, as he and First Lady Jill Biden pay their in Uvalde, Texas on May 29. — President Biden embraces Mandy Gutierrez, the principal of Robb Elementary School, as he and first lady Jill Biden pay their respects in Uvalde, Texas, on May 29. Photo: Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images

The principal of the Uvalde, Texas, elementary school where 19 students and two teachers were killed by a gunman, was suspended with pay Monday, her attorney confirmed.

What they're saying: San Antonio-based attorney Ricardo Cedillo said in an emailed statement that Robb Elementary School principal Mandy Gutierrez had been "placed on administrative leave with pay today by Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District superintendent Hal Harrell." He declined to comment further.

The big picture: A special legislative investigation found that Gutierrez and other staff knew before the May 24 massacre that there were problems with a lock on a door to the classroom where the shooting took place, but it wasn't fixed.

There was a "regrettable culture of noncompliance by school personnel who frequently propped doors open and deliberately circumvented locks," according to the Texas House of Representatives report.

Of note: The district school board held a meeting on Monday evening at which it was agreed that the start of the district school year should be postponed until Sept. 6 so officials can address educational resource issues at Robb Elementary, including replacing classrooms.

Representatives for the school district could not immediately be reached for comment.

Editor's note: This article has been updated with details of the district school board meeting.

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Uvalde school principal placed on administrative leave

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