Grand Prairie puts superintendent on leave three months after hiring him

GRAND PRAIRIE (1080 KRLD)- Grand Prairie ISD has put its superintendent on administrative leave. The school board voted 5-2 to place Jorge Arredondo on leave at a meeting Wednesday night.

The board named Arredondo the district's lone finalist for the job May 28, and he started July 8. Arredondo had previously served as officer of student affairs in Spring ISD. Earlier in his career, he was superintendent of Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD.

The Grand Prairie school board called a meeting Wednesday night and went straight into closed session. About two and a half hours later, the board reconvened and voted to place Arredondo on leave.

Board members did not discuss why they took the vote.

“Because this is an ongoing investigation, there will be no additional comment from this Board. 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," School Board President Amber Moffitt wrote in a statement.

Trustees Gloria Carrillo and David Espinosa voted against the change.

"I believe we need more substance in this investigation," Espinosa said. "I believe this seems like a witch-hunt driven by political motives."

Grand Prairie ISD says the decision to put Arredondo on leave was made "to protect the District and Dr. Arredondo, effective immediately."

"The District remains committed to the success of our students, staff, and the Grand Prairie ISD community," the district wrote in a statement.

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