Parent urges Eagle Pass ISD to release records and explain handling of Serna Elementary threat

Luis Aranda told the Eagle Pass Independent School District board at its Nov. 11 meeting that the district has failed to provide a clear, on-the-record explanation of an incident at Serna Elementary and urged trustees to release investigative notes with identifying information redacted.

"It has now been 50 days since the incident at Serna Elementary and the district still has not provided parents with a clear public explanation of what went wrong," Aranda said. He accused the district of waiting a day to inform parents, not notifying local law enforcement and otherwise failing to follow the district handbook’s requirements for a terroristic-threat investigation.

Aranda said the district’s press conference and internal handling left parents without transparency. "If it was [investigation] completed, then release the evidence," he said, adding that the district should redact names and put its findings on the record so families can see what, if anything, failed.

The board’s public record shows only a brief acknowledgment after Aranda’s remarks and a move to the next agenda items; no detailed response or release of the requested documents was recorded during the meeting. The superintendent and district staff did not provide additional public comment or a timeline for releasing investigative materials in the portions of the meeting recorded in the transcript.

Aranda also referenced national examples to underscore his concern about school safety and urged trustees to prioritize transparency and accountability so parents and the community can evaluate the district’s response.

The board proceeded to scheduled recognitions and presentations. No formal action on the Serna Elementary matter was recorded at the Nov. 11 meeting; the transcript indicates the comment was taken during the public-comment portion of the meeting and was not followed by a reported vote or assignment of staff to release documents.