Following months of community complaints and calls for transparency, Grand Prairie Independent School District trustees have approved a voluntary separation agreement with their former superintendent, Jorge Arredondo.
The agreement includes an undisclosed payout and hides the reasons why the district fired Arredondo after just a few months on the job.
During a special school board meeting on Monday night, trustees voted 4-3 to approve the separation agreement.
Trustees Nancy Bridges, Terry Brooks, Gloria Carrillo, and David Espinosa voted for the agreement.
Board President Amber Moffitt and Trustees Emily Liles and Bryan Parra voted no.
Liles said the district has “no issue” releasing a third-party investigation report by law firm Walsh Gallegos that reveals why Arredondo was fired, as long as staff names are redacted. But she said Arredondo asked for the report to remain sealed.
“Transparency is lost,” said Liles. “Due process for the superintendent doesn’t happen, and the financial details of the settlement agreement will remain hidden from the community.”
Grand Prairie ISD resident and government watchdog Malcom Chakery said he believes the settlement amount is around $400,000.
Chakery estimates attorneys’ fees for the fiasco have likely cost district taxpayers hundreds of thousands more.
In addition, Arredondo continued to receive his taxpayer-funded salary of $317,000 after trustees suspended him in September.
The same trustees voted unanimously to hire Arredondo as Grand Prairie ISD’s superintendent just last summer.
Arredondo started on July 1 but was suspended in September for alleged violations of a board policy prohibiting discrimination, harassment, or retaliation against district employees.
Following an outside investigation, trustees moved to fire Arredondo.
The superintendent then sued the district, temporarily blocking his removal, but in early December trustees voted 5-2 to fire Arredondo.
Since then, Arredondo has settled his lawsuit with the district, leading to Monday night’s vote on a separation agreement.
Before the vote, Grand Prairie resident and former state representative Rodney Anderson told trustees that approving a settlement with no transparency sets “a dangerous precedent” and is “a betrayal to your community.”
“If violations occurred, and you vote yes, you’re rewarding the person responsible with zero transparency,” he said.
Your duty should be to the taxpayers, teachers, administrators, and staff members of this district. A “yes” vote with zero transparency tells everyone on both sides that your allegiance lies elsewhere.
“Don’t hide behind confidentiality, silencing the findings, and expect the public to just trust you,” added Anderson.
Following the vote to approve Arredondo’s buyout, trustees unanimously voted to post a job listing for a new superintendent.
One trustee hinted that the board could use the same search firm that recommended Arredondo to help them find the district’s next superintendent.
Liles said that during last year’s search, trustees “were confident in the integrity of the process.”
“But today, we now know that process was flawed, and subsequently have received a letter from O’Hanlon, Demerath, and Castillo expressing their desire to rectify the situation,” she said.
At the same time, a different set of trustees could select the next superintendent.
Two school board seats are on the May 2025 ballot: Single Member District 6, currently held by Liles, and At-Large Place 7, now held by Moffitt.
“I think it’s time for Grand Prairie to make some major changes on our school board, and you’ve got to start with the two seats that are currently open,” said Chakery. “It’s time to make some adjustments.”
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