Mold Remediation in Grand Prairie, TX

GRAND PRAIRIE — The Grand Prairie Independent School District voted 5-2 on Monday in favor of terminating recently hired superintendent Dr. Jorge Arrendondo.

Arredondo was placed on administrative leave in September, months after being chosen to lead the district in July.

The board voted in favor of the suspension to "protect the district and Dr. Arredondo." According to the district, Arredondo violated the district's policy around discrimination, harassment, and retaliation against district employees. The district has not provided any specifics about the allegations.

Arredondo's attorney, Mary Nix said they filed a lawsuit against the district, claiming the board broke his contract by not giving him any advance notice or explanation for putting him on leave in September. He has continued receiving his $317,000 salary. Arredondo also claimed the board violated his constitutional rights by discriminatory and defamatory statements against him, implying that he was favoring Hispanic students and staff, which he said was not true.

In October, a judge temporarily blocked the district from firing him by granting a temporary restraining order. That restraining order expired, leading to Monday's meeting.

The board has not publicly released any information about what warranted the proposed termination angering a number of Grand Prairie residents who spoke at Monday night's meeting, demanding to know what he did to deserve termination.

"The school board has been really focused on spending a lot of our money, that should actually be focused on our teachers and kids," said Esmeralda Rodriguez, a LULAC Member. "I don't know if this is going to be over. Dr. Arredondo probably wants to appeal, and this is just going to drag on and it's just not a good thing for our district."

School board member David Espinosa voted against the proposed termination and supports other options such as a reprimand, suspension or growth plan; however, he won't say what the allegations are.

Arredondo could take the district to court over Monday night's decision.

"This is an ill-advised decision that will only result in further legal action against the district and individual board members," Nix said in a statement Monday night. "Throughout his brief tenure Dr. Arredondo acted solely in the interests of the district's students and faculty, and no credible evidence has been produced that he violated any district policy. Dr. Arredondo is obviously disappointed, as are many in the Grand Prairie community. However, he remains confident that his name will be cleared and the motivations behind this wrongful termination will be exposed."

This is a proposed termination so the district will now go through the formal steps to end his employment.

CBS News Texas reached out to the district for comment and is waiting for a response.

J.D. Miles

J.D. Miles is an award-winning reporter who has been covering North Texas for CBS 11 since 1996.

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Allegations of policy violations led to Arredondo’s paid suspension in September after two months on the job in Grand Prairie. He then sued the district and trustees, alleging he had been denied the chance to defend himself against their claims.

The Grand Prairie ISD school board voted Monday night to dismiss suspended superintendent Jorge Arredondo, who spent more than a decade as a principal and administrator in Houston ISD.

The 5-2 vote came after months of controversy and legal back-and-forth between Arredondo and Grand Prairie ISD, which serves an area west of Dallas.

Following a nearly two-hour-long closed session, the board approved a motion to terminate Arredondo’s contract “for the reasons discussed by the board in closed session and as presented in the written notice of proposed termination that we were authorized in council to send him.”

Voting to terminate the contract were board President Amber Moffitt, Nancy Bridges, Bryan Parra, Terry Brooks, and Emily Liles. Trustees Gloria Carrillo and David Espinosa voted not to terminate.

There was no public discussion among members.

In a statement about the meeting, the district said the vote authorized attorneys to notify Arredondo of his proposed termination.

“After a thorough investigation and the advice of legal counsel, I am confident that we made the right decision based on policy and the Texas Education Code," Moffitt said in the statement.

Arredondo was hired by a unanimous vote in June to lead the district.

Allegations of policy violations led to his paid suspension in September after two months on the job. He then sued the district and trustees, alleging he had been denied the chance to defend himself against their claims. In his lawsuit, he said the district violated his contractual and constitutional rights.

Trustees heard from a dozen speakers prior to their closed session Monday night, most of them in support of Arredondo.

Ana Coca, past president of the Grand Prairie League of United Latin American Citizens, urged the board to reinstate the superintendent.

"Dr. Arredondo has the tools to make this a premiere [district]," she said. "I've been here more than 30 years. Please, I implore you, do the right thing today. Bring him back.”

She asked the board to give Arredondo “parameters” and then consider the matter in another six months.

“Our kids need us more than ever," she said.

Speaker Angela Luckey-Vaughn disagreed.

“If a person had violated the law or any policy,” she told trustees, “you’ve got to hold them accountable to what that law says, the violation and whatever that policy says.”

Arredondo was previously granted a temporary restraining order preventing trustees from considering his dismissal, but that order was voided when Grand Prairie ISD requested the case be moved to federal court.

Arredondo's attorney, Mary Nix, called the board’s decision “ill-advised” and said it “will only result in further legal action against the district and individual board members.”

She said there is no evidence Arredondo violated district policy and that while he is disappointed, “he remains confident that his name will be cleared and the motivations behind this wrongful termination will be exposed.”

In addition to Houston ISD, where Arredondo served as a campus principal and then as an assistant superintendent from 2014-19, he also has worked as an administrator in Spring ISD north of Houston.

Grand Prairie ISD board fires superintendent

After months of controversy and legal battles, the Grand Prairie ISD school board voted to fire Doctor Jorge Arredondo. This comes less than 6 months after he was hired.

The Brief

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - The Grand Prairie Independent School District’s new superintendent has officially been fired just six months after he was hired.

School board members voted 5-2 during a special meeting on Monday night to terminate Dr. Jorge Arredondo "for the reasons discussed in closed session."

They had to listen to an onslaught of public comments after that.

"I think we need to be honest about this entire situation," said Alfred Castillo, a Grand Prairie resident.

"I believe you have made a huge error. This man came to make changes. He started making the changes, and he got kicked out, which is not correct," said Lupe Castillo, another resident.

"He’s here to worry about change and fix the independent school district here in Grand Prairie. Now, look at your records. You are not doing that great. You haven’t been doing that great for some time. He’s here to change that. And if you don’t give the man the power to do that, you’re going to be forever failures. You’re going to fail," added Gil Cerda, a Grand Prairie ISD grandparent.

Dr. Arredondo has been on paid leave for nearly three months for reasons that have never been explained fully.

Related

The temporary restraining order preventing the district from terminating Dr, Jorge Arredondo's contract is no longer in effect after the district's motion to move the case to federal court. His lawyer says the move leave's him vulnerable once again to being fired.

Only court documents have indicated he’s accused of violating the district’s discrimination, harassment, and retaliation policy.

At least one public commenter talked about the information from the court case surrounding the matter.

"The outside independent firm conducted more than 40 interviews with district personnel, held a 2 ½ hour interview with Dr. Arredondo during which he was accompanied by legal counsel. So, any claim that he didn’t know what the allegations were is simply not true," said Rodney Anderson, a former state representative.

Arredondo sued the board for breach of contract and received a court order preventing the district from firing him. But that temporary restraining order became invalid when the board petitioned for the case to be moved to federal court.

Related

Concerned parents in Grand Prairie are calling for transparency after the district’s superintendent was placed on leave. He’s under investigation, but only trustees know why.

"The board is not giving him an opportunity to defend his actions performed during the brief time he has been our superintendent," said Gracie Cortez, a resident.

Arredondo’s attorney released a statement following the board’s decision to fire him.

"This is an ill-advised decision that will only result in further legal action against the district and individual board members… Dr. Arredondo is obviously disappointed, as are many in the Grand Prairie community. However, he remains confident that his name will be cleared and the motivations behind this wrongful termination will be exposed," the statement said.

Arredondo was hired on June 24.

It's unclear if he plans to appeal his termination.

The Source

The show will run from Nov. 8, 2024, to Jan. 19, 2025

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Imagine stepping into a dreamscape crafted with extraordinary attention to detail, where colorful lights guide you through enchanted forests, majestic dragons come to life and fairies seem to dance in the night air.

This winter, just outside the Texas Trust CU Theatre in Grand Prairie, the Tianyu Light Festival offers an immersive experience unlike any other — a magical journey through craftsmanship, imagination and cultural storytelling. The level of detail, creativity, and artistry is truly what makes this a unique and unforgettable adventure worth the drive from Plano, Frisco or anywhere in or near Collin County.

Key Details For Planning Your Visit

To make the most of your visit to the Tianyu Light Festival, here are the essential details:

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the official website.

A Night Of Wonder And Lights

The Tianyu Light Festival runs from November 8, 2024, to January 19, 2025, transforming an otherwise familiar space into a vivid wonderland. This isn't your typical Christmas lights display—it’s an experience that transcends the ordinary, blending art, technology and culture into a one-of-a-kind festival. Guests are greeted by dazzling arches of light and sound, starting at the entrance where princesses and festive music set an energetic, welcoming tone.

On VIP preview night, we attended with our children, and from the very first moment, we were swept into enchantment by salsa music floating through the crisp evening air, setting the stage for exploration. The kids couldn’t contain their excitement as we stepped into “Koda’s Magical Adventure,” and after several hours of exploring every corner, they were already asking us, “When can we come back?”

Koda’s Adventure To The Magical Forest

The entire experience centers around Koda’s Adventure to the Magical Forest, an enchanting storyline that guides visitors through the festival. Young explorers are invited to join Koda as he embarks on a quest to gather memory fragments scattered throughout various installations. Each section of the festival is a chapter in Koda’s journey, blending fantasy, light and interaction in a way that keeps families engaged throughout the night.

Along Koda's adventure, there are plenty of interactive elements that make the journey extra special for children and adults alike. Imagine swinging under the wings of a giant glowing butterfly, where your movements trigger a burst of colors and music. Or picture yourself riding a glowing seesaw that lights up with every motion, creating an ever-changing pattern of colors beneath you. There’s also the magical bubble experience, where children can stand among bubbles illuminated by the dazzling festival lights, turning an ordinary moment into pure magic. And let’s not forget the hands-on games, from pedal-powered fireworks to musical installations that invite visitors to create their own tunes. These interactive touches transform the festival from something you merely observe to something you actively participate in, making it an unforgettable adventure.

Magic Forest And Twirling Tunnels

The adventure begins in the magic forest, where towering trees wrapped in pink, purple and green glow with otherworldly luminescence. As Koda ventures through this mystical environment, glowing birds, enormous luminous flowers and owls add to the ethereal atmosphere. The children’s laughter echoes as they run along the illuminated paths, chasing the light and adding to the sense of a real fairytale coming to life.

From here, Koda takes us through the twirling tunnel, a whimsical space that seems to playfully challenge perceptions. Visitors are immersed in a swirl of colors, creating the illusion of walking through a kaleidoscope — an adventure that feels whimsical and surreal, almost as if stepping into Koda’s vivid dreams. Whether you're young or young at heart, it’s an area that brings a smile and a sense of wonder.

Enchanted Installations and Cultural Immersion

Next in Koda’s journey, visitors find themselves among installations of traditional Chinese dragons and bamboo. These installations add a culturally immersive dimension to the adventure, reflecting Koda’s exploration of magical lands and faraway cultures. The grand dragons weave in and out of the glowing lights, and children reach out to touch the bamboo structures, their faces lit by the ever-changing colors.

One of the most enchanting parts of Koda’s journey is the giant butterfly installation. Standing beneath the butterfly's 20-foot wings, visitors can hop on a swing, activating the lights and music that bring the butterfly to life. As Koda swings beneath the butterfly, its wings change colors, creating an unforgettable moment of magic and interaction — a reminder that this journey is as much about what you feel as what you see.

Throughout Koda’s adventure, he encounters traditional Chinese performances, including bian lian (face changing) and diabolo (Chinese yo-yo) acts. These performances offer Koda and the visitors moments to pause, learn and marvel, providing a rich cultural backdrop that makes the festival even more immersive.

Food Court And Marketplace

The food court at the Tianyu Light Festival is a bustling area filled with diverse food and drink options. The offerings range from classic comfort foods to international favorites, providing something for everyone. Indulge in Sonoran-style hot dogs, barbecue brisket and funnel cakes — perfect for those who crave hearty and traditional flavors. For dessert lovers, you can find deep-fried apples, cream puffs and cotton candy, all of which add a sweet ending to your magical journey.

The adventure also takes Koda through a marketplace where visitors can purchase handcrafted goods. This small but charming area provides an opportunity to take home a piece of the magic — unique gifts that add a personal touch to the holiday season.

Performance Schedule And Practical Details

If you’re planning to visit, make sure you time your arrival to catch one of the live performances held nightly at 6:30 p.m., 7:45 p.m., and 9:00 p.m. Each performance is around 30 minutes, and they are well worth planning your evening around — adding an engaging live element that enriches Koda’s adventure.

A Magical Escape for Collin County Residents

The festival is located just outside the Texas Trust CU Theatre in Grand Prairie, and it’s about a 45-minute drive from most areas in Collin County. Paid parking is readily available, and the event is family-friendly, stroller-friendly and wheelchair accessible.

For our readers in Collin County, the Tianyu Light Festival is an easy drive that leads to an unforgettable family adventure. It’s a way to break away from the holiday bustle and immerse yourself in an enchanting environment where every detail — from glowing dragons to shimmering mist forests — is designed to transport you to a world of wonder. This isn’t just another holiday event; it’s a chance to be part of Koda’s story, to slow down, and savor each light, sound and shared moment.

We spent hours exploring the glowing pathways, interacting with the installations, and marveling at the artistry on display. And as we left, our children were already asking when we’d be back — a testament to just how special this adventure is. Plan your visit soon — because the magic of the Tianyu Light Festival is calling, and Koda’s journey won’t be the same without you.

Now in its 10th year, the exhibit has traveled to 51 cities across the county, attracting over 10 million visitors worldwide.

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