As a concerned community member of the city of Grand Prairie and a firm believer that all students of the Grand Prairie Independent school district deserve the best education, I am specifically concerned about the manner in which the GPISD school board has conducted the investigation of our superintendent, Dr. Arredondo.

On May 28, 2024 Dr. Arredondo was named the lone finalist for superintendent with full support from the board 7-0 and his first day was Monday July 8, 2024.  Dr. Arredondo uprooted his family to come and serve the children of our community. As the superintendent, Dr. Arredondo has had to make tough but necessary changes to best serve the needs of our students. Dr. Arredondo is disrupting the status quo and challenging the norms that have permeated GPISD for far too long. This has upset many individuals in the district who have become complacent and comfortable - now resulting in an “investigation”. Dr. Arredondo was placed on administrative leave on September 4th. 

On Monday, October 15th, Dr. Arredondo filed a civil lawsuit against GPISD and the school board, petitioning a temporary restraining order, temporary injunction, and motion for expedited discovery.

The presiding judge ruled in Dr. Arredondo's favor Monday afternoon, prior to the school board meeting on Oct. 17, when the board was set to decide Dr. Arredondo's future in the district.

The GPISD school board has not been forthcoming with information regarding the investigation, which undermines public faith in the way our children's education is managed. It is essential for the school board to demonstrate integrity and openness. We need to ensure that all legal and ethical standards are upheld – that due process is appropriately administered for Dr. Arredondo. 

Decisions made by educators and school board members should be accountable to the communities they serve. Nearly 27,000 students are currently being impacted by the actions of this board. Without transparency, we lose the ability to fully understand how these decisions are being made. Without due process, we lack the assurance that legal protocols are upheld. 

Consequently, I am calling for transparency from the GPISD school board with regards to the investigation of the superintendent, Dr. Arredondo and an unwavering commitment to following due process. Our students, families, and members of the community deserve better. 

Please support our call for openness and fairness. Join us at the next school board meeting on Thursday, October 17th at 7:00pm at the Dr. Susan J Simpson Education Center - 2602 S. Belt Line Rd, Grand Prairie, TX 75052 to demonstrate your support for transparency from the GPISD school board and due process for our superintendent Dr. Arredondo. You can also voice your opinion by signing up to be a speaker at the board meeting by filling out a card on-site. Sign this petition now and share with other members of the Grand Prairie community. Together, we rise.