Records Show Communication Gaps After Threat at Armando Cerna Elementary
EAGLE PASS, TX — Newly released documents show that a teacher at Armando Cerna Elementary felt unsafe and uninformed the morning after threatening notes were discovered on campus, raising concerns about how Eagle Pass ISD communicated the seriousness of the incident to staff.
The most significant document released so far is a teacher’s early-morning text message, obtained through a Public Information Act request submitted by Parent Advocate Luis Aranda. The Maverick Times later submitted its own public information request seeking the full record of what occurred before, during, and after the incident. Eagle Pass ISD released only a small portion of the responsive documents and has asked the Texas Attorney General for permission to withhold the rest.
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Teacher Text Message Shows Fear and Lack of Reassurance
The text message, sent at 7:02 a.m. on September 23, shows the teacher informing campus leadership that she could not report to work due to fear and the absence of communication following the discovery of two threatening notes.
The teacher wrote that she had been unable to sleep and had not received any explanation about security measures or what actions were being taken by the administration. She also noted that parents were already contacting her early that morning and stating they would keep their children home because of the incident.
The message reflects a clear absence of timely reassurance from school officials and shows that both parents and staff were left without sufficient information the morning after a threat was discovered.
Eagle Pass Police Department Statement Issued Later That Morning
Later that same morning, the Eagle Pass Police Department issued a public safety statement confirming officers had responded to a 911 call reporting a possible active shooter threat at Armando Cerna Elementary.
According to the statement, when officers arrived, they learned that Eagle Pass ISD Police and school staff had already been made aware of the threat before EPPD was notified. The department emphasized its commitment to supporting any investigation involving potential threats to schools and the community.
The Maverick Times Requested Records; District Released Limited Documents
After reviewing the documents initially released to Parent Advocate Luis Aranda, The Maverick Times submitted a comprehensive Public Information Act request seeking a full account of the district’s communication, response actions, and coordination with law enforcement.
The district’s own responsive document list shows that Eagle Pass ISD released only three categories of records:
• The teacher’s text message
• A parent letter issued by the principal
• The alert notifications sent on September 23, including email, text, voice, ParentSquare posts, and the Eagle Pass Police Department’s public statement
No other documents were released.
Multiple categories of requested records were listed as “no documents to disclose,” meaning the district asserts that certain materials do not exist. Other categories were withheld in their entirety and submitted to the Texas Attorney General for a ruling.
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District Argues Most Records Should Be Withheld
Eagle Pass ISD submitted a 10-day letter, a 15-day letter, and an amended 15-day letter to the Texas Attorney General. These filings invoke numerous statutory exemptions under the Texas Public Information Act.
The filings argue that various requested records fall into confidential categories, including juvenile law-enforcement information, concluded investigations closed without prosecution, internal agency memoranda, and confidential educator evaluations under Education Code 21.355.
The amended 15-day letter filed on November 20 also asserts that records involving Principal Juan Leija qualify as confidential evaluation materials and should not be released.
The Attorney General has not yet issued a decision that would either permit or require the district to release the withheld documents.
District Reviewing Threat Protocols
Eagle Pass ISD has not released additional details about the threatening notes, the timeline of notifications, or how communication was handled between campus leadership, district police, and city police.
The limited records released and the pending Attorney General review have raised concerns among parents, staff, and members of the public. The documents show that while parents were already contacting teachers early that morning, staff themselves lacked clear information or reassurance from administration.
The district is expected to reassess its communication procedures, notification timelines, and coordination with law enforcement as more information becomes available through public records and the Attorney General ruling.
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