A superintendent in Texas resigned Monday after leaving a gun in a bathroom where it was accessible to third graders.
The resignation of Robby Stuteville, superintendent for Rising Star Independent School District (ISD), was confirmed by the district, according to KETK. Rising Star ISD is located in the city of the same name in central West Texas.
Rising Star ISD planned to hold an emergency meeting Tuesday to discuss the resignation and decide on whether to take additional action, as well as decide on how to proceed with naming an acting superintendent.
A third grader found the gun that Stuteville had left in the bathroom, he confirmed, per KETK. The third grader in question reportedly did not touch the gun but immediately told a teacher.
Stuteville told Abilene-based sister stations KTAB and KRBC that he open carries at the school, as does the principal.
“There was never a danger other than the obvious,” Stuteville said, per KTAB and KRBC.
After the teacher was informed about the gun, a second student reportedly entered the bathroom and confirmed the gun was real.
Stuteville said he was proud of the student who reported the gun.
“This is one of those examples of guns in schools,” Stuteville said to the two TV stations. “Regardless of who takes responsibility, they are a considerable danger and one should school their child to be on the lookout for any unusual placement of a weapon or anything out of place.”
Don Braly, chief of police for Rising Star, said that an investigation is being conducted into the incident with the potential legality of the situation being explored.
Braly said that law enforcement was notified of the incident for the first time last week, when the Eastland County Sheriff’s office received a call. Because of this, the police are looking into a failure to report, as the incident was apparently not reported until last Wednesday despite occurring in January.
Parents discussed the incident at a Rising Star Board of Trustees meeting Thursday.
“For our kids’ protection, we need someone who is more responsible with a gun,” commented Elizabeth Lee, who has two grandchildren attending Rising Star ISD, reported KTXS. “I was shocked because it happened early in January and we’re just now finding out about it. Mr. Stuteville is a good man. But that was irresponsible.”
After news of the incident hit social media, one Twitter user also criticized how the school handled the events, noting that a second student was apparently sent to confirm the presence of a gun rather than an adult.
Makes me wonder why this Superintendent did NOT have a proper holster for the conditions the weapon was used in. IT is one thing to remove one’s belt holstered side arm when needing to squat in the field. Quite another to wear a holster that would require removal of the weapon under any circumstance during normal daily activities around kids.
There is a VERY HONORABLE man involved here. Made NO excuse. Determined that it was irresponsible and actually unforgivable all by himself. Gave his resignation.
To me, the board would be CRAZY to let him go, he is the RIGHT man for the job and should be retained. Along with professional re-training and professional review of his equipment design.