Deion Sanders Fired (Again) From His Charter School, But Could Get Rehired (Again)
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Photo courtesy of Michael J. Cargill, via Flickr. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Some workplaces have signs stating the number of days since an accident. Prime Prep Academy, a sports-intensive charter school in Dallas, should have a similar sign, except that it would state the numbers of days since co-founder Deion Sanders was fired (or rehired).
For the second time in three months, the former pro football and baseball player, whose “Prime Time” sobriquet was nicked for the school’s name, was shown the door. The second firing, announced Dec. 3, happened two days after the Dallas Morning News reported that questions over Prime Prep’s finances were attracting the attention of the state’s education department, which hasn’t started any investigation — yet. From The Morning News:
“The Texas Education Agency is aware of various issues surrounding Prime Prep Academy,” said spokeswoman DeEtta Culbertson in a written statement.“TEA continues to be diligent in gathering information related to specific complaints regarding finances, special education and allegations of nepotism,” she wrote. “It would be premature to comment on any of the specifics until our fact finding in each of these areas is complete. However, TEA is prepared to take the appropriate steps should action be warranted.”
According to Dallas’ WFAA-TV, which broke the story of Sanders’ firing (and a walkout by students in protest), the second departure of the man who calls himself “Prime Time” is related to a power struggle between administrators loyal to him, and those loyal to the school’s other founder, D.L. Wallace. Wallace resigned in November, after a school board meeting featuring numerous parent complaints about poor education, poor discipline, and pretty much poor anything else they would want in a school. Wallace said his departure had been in the works since August, but Sanders had previously vowed to try to throw him out.
WFAA caught up with Sanders, Prime Prep’s football coach and official public face, in the school parking lot on the day he was fired by the school’s superintendent (much to the chagrin of the chair of the school’s board):
“I never dreamed this,” Deion Sanders lamented [editor's note -- yes, lamented]. “I just dreamed of having the best academic and athletic institution in the country, and we are going to have it. We are going to have it… we just have to get this mess out.” …“This is nonsense. We are sick of it,” Sanders said. “The kids don’t deserve it. Over-paid, under-qualified administrators never worked in a school in their life. Total TOT +1.21%chaos. We have a formula to restore what the was the dream at Prime Prep.”
What that formula is, who knows? The school has seen a lot of chaos since it opened its doors in 2012. Sanders was fired the first time in October, following an argument with the school’s chief financial officer, Kevin Jefferson. He claimed Sanders grabbed him by the throat and threw him to the ground. Police in November issued Sanders a citation for misdemeanor assault, with a $500 fine attached. Sanders is fighting the citation.
That firing didn’t last long — the school rehired Sanders hours later. So perhaps Sanders could get re-rehired as soon as Dec. 6, when another board meeting is scheduled.
