The Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District board addressed controversy over its decision to end an internal review of the district police response to the Robb Elementary school shooting last May.
The district announced last year it would work with the private firm JPPI Investigations to conduct a review of how police responded to the mass shooting.
Interim Superintendent Gary Patterson said at a board meeting Monday that JPPI was mentioned as an option but was never officially authorized.
“We never engaged JPPI. We never signed anything with JPPI,” Patterson said. “And never paid JPPI having to do with an investigation into our police department.”
A press release by the district in September stated otherwise.
Patterson apologized for the confusion.
“The press releases [stated] JPPI would investigate or are investigating. That is confusing, and I will agree that is confusing,” he said.
Patterson said the district police response has been subject to several other investigations, including one completed by the Texas Police Chiefs Association.
At the meeting, the board unanimously voted to end its school year before the May 24 anniversary of the massacre.
Students will not attend school after May 22 due to safety concerns and to respect the lives lost.
Patterson said the district has worked with the Texas Education Agency to ensure the early end to the school year would have no financial consequences or make-up days.
“The administration has worked through these issues with the commissioner’s office [at] the Texas Education Agency to address this unique situation,” he said.
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Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District board members met with the community Monday night to discuss the dropped JPPI internal investigation and changes to the current calendar school year.