Deion Sanders Attributes Prime Prep Trouble To Former Co-Founder
DALLAS (105.3 THE FAN) -- The Texas Education Agency took steps on Tuesday to shutdown the sponsoring entity of Prime Prep Academy, the charter school started by former Dallas Cowboy Deion Sanders.
Speaking to the K&C Masterpiece on 105.3 The Fan, Sanders attributes the action by the TEA to a former co-founder, D.L. Wallace, who started a Summer Food Program in 2011 under Uplift Fort Worth.
Sanders says Wallace and his wife were banned for life for abusing the food program. However, after alleging racism, Wallace was allowed to once again continue with the food program when Prim Prep received its charter in 2012.
"Once again, he did the same type of practices that he did before, and they found blemish once again," said Sanders. "Then, ensued with banning him for life. Now, we're getting punished in 2014 because of the negligence and ignorance of a former co-founder which we have rid ourselves of."
Sanders says he wasn't aware of the improprieties when the school opened in 2012, as he was consumed by his public divorce and custody battle with his former wife.
"My mind was on my kids and winning custody of my kids -- which I did."
When Sanders turned his attention back to the school, he hired a private investigator, who discovered the mismanagement of the food program.
"I was telling the public when all of this was going on and pulling the coats out of all this stuff. Remember, I was terminated," said Sanders. "Why do you think a guy is terminated from his school? Because he's stopping the hustle."
The argument culminated in an altercation between Sanders and a faculty member at the school, Kevin Jefferson.
"It was a joke then -- a mockery. You thought that I was just getting into it with an employee over nonsense. No, it's about these kids."
Sanders says the school then cut ties with everyone tied to Wallace and his "circus".
However, the school's food program was cut at the end of last school year, and school's can't operate without one.
Sanders says he understands the state's decision, but Prime Prep intends to appeal the decision before a July 30 deadline.
"Of course we're going to do that. We're not going to close by any means. This has nothing to do with what we're doing or what we're doing as an administration. It has something to do with yesterday that's affecting today."
And if the appeals process fails, how will the charter school proceed?
"We have a backup plan, we're just not saying it over the air."
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