Uvalde school officials approve terms of superintendent’s retirement without publicly disclosing them

The Board of Trustees of Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District meets to hear from members of the Uvalde community at Uvalde High School in July. (Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune)

UVALDE — The Uvalde school board approved the terms of Superintendent Hal Harrell’s retirement Wednesday, but did not disclose any details of his exit as leader of a school district still reeling from the worst school shooting in Texas history.

When voting on the retirement terms, trustees referred to discussions that happened behind closed doors during an executive session that lasted hours. Trustees then quickly announced that Gary Patterson would be the interim superintendent. But trustees did not say when Harrell’s departure would take effect or when Patterson would begin as his interim replacement. (On Friday, two days after the meeting, the district announced that Harrell will assume the role of superintendent emeritus on Nov. 1 and will retire on Aug. 31, 2023.)