Press Release by Jenifer McGehee

Save the Children will be hosting a Free event for incoming Kindergarten students and their families at Dalton! It’s a half-day event where students and families will get a look into a kinder classroom in our district as well as receive some at-home learning materials.

For more information call 830=591-4833

The Uvalde Hesperian filed an Open Records request earlier this month with at the Uvalde Police Department requesting the audio and/or transcript of the 911 call connected to the Monday, January 2nd incident at Dalton Elementary School where, according to a Uvalde Police post on Facebook later that a male subject wearing all back and carrying a duffle bag was seen entering a classroom at Dalton Elementary School.

In a letter received Friday January 20th  by the Uvalde Hesperian from Uvalde Police Department Communications Director Mayra Landry, it states:

“In reference to Open Records Request Case for incident that occurred on the date of January 2nd, 203 at Dalton Elementary School, I am unable to locate any 911 call recordings.”

This new information raises a number of questions including:  What report prompted the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Uvalde Police Department to respond and conduct a search of the school that Monday afternoon on January 2nd and what channels was the initial report made?

It appears the report was not made through a 911 phone call.

The Uvalde Hesperian learned from a source that a suspect wearing dark colored clothing was seen in the vicinity of Dalton School acting erratically and obstructing traffic on Leona Road in the vicinity of  Dalton Elementary School a few days before the incident at Dalton School was reported on Monday, January 2nd. The person who observed this was driving down Leona Road and saw a suspect walking in and out of the road at times blocking the flow of traffic. 

  The driver said he/she called in a report to the Uvalde Police Department.

KSAT 12 Reporter Leigh Waldman reported on Twitter Tuesday, January 3rd, that Uvalde CISD is reviewing its cameras at the Dalton Elementary Campus.

LeighWaldman (@Leigh Waldman) Tweeted: “Chief Daniel Rodriguez says there’s no sign of forced entry into the school. He explained they’re taking these calls seriously and are ensuring kids are safe when they go back to school on Wednesday” https://twitter.com/leighwaldman/status/1610037854066860034?s=51&t=TGb6IU0mOp6JsZKqKkblig

In a second report Waldman wrote: “I’m told the district is in the process of checking their surveillance cameras now. At the districts end of year safety meeting, we were told 79 cameras were installed at Dalton Elementary”

The Uvalde Police Department posted this statement on its Facebook Page:

Dalton Elementary School principal Mandy Pruitt has resigned effective immediately for personal reasons according to a  Uvalde CISD district memo dated Monday, November 28th, 2022.

According to the memo Margaret Tarski will serve as the Dalton Campus Administrator during the transition. Tarski is a Blended Learning Specialist with the district.