Tuesday, May 21, 2013

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School district speaks out about arrest of former mariachi director
Posted: 03.21.2013 at 11:28 PM
Marcy Martinez

Marcy Martinez is an anchor and reporter for Action 4 News.

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Dr. Richard Rivera, Interim Superintendent of Edcouch-Elsa ISD
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It's a discussion Dr. Richard Rivera, Interim Superintendent of Edcouch-Elsa ISD said came immediately after a family approached the school district claiming the mariachi director Homero Gutierrez was having an inappropriate relationship with a high school student.

"They are told their boundaries, their limits in which our employees cannot cross," said Dr. Rivera. "What I have done after this incident is I met with all the principals of every campus and I told them there has to be a seperation between students and staff," says Rivera.

The 16 year old girl claims she engaged in a sexual relationship with the 35-year-old man who also served as a teacher's aide at the school and even allegedly had sex on campus.

Rivera says the district informed police, the Texas Education Agency, and he himself sat down with Gutierrez to discuss the allegations.

"When it was brought to my attention, I met with the individual and during the discussion he decided to resign," said Rivera.

Gutierrez was arrested and went before a judge Thursday morning then transferred to the Hidalgo County Detention Center.

The girl's family told Action 4 News she is not enrolled at the high school any longer since the incident is taking a major toll on her. She is now homeschooled.

They are outraged claiming Gutierrez took advantage of a minor.

Dr. Rivera wants to assure other families in his school district that measures are being taken to promote a healthy and safe learning environment.

"Our students come first and we want to make sure that when they come to this school district they are safe and that this does not happen again," said Rivera.

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