10 Broward principals forced out

Broward Principals' and Assistants' Association: 15 to 24 principals expected to be forced out

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – A principal who supported a fired cheerleading coach is now out of a job, too.

Published reports say Washington Collado, the principal Majory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, was forced out Monday.

"He is the highest score of not just high schools but all the schools," said Lisa Maxwell, executive director of the Broward Principals' and Assistants' Association. "I don't know if the cheerleading issue has anything to do with it but I bet it does."

Collado supported cheerleading coach Melissa Prochilo, who was fired despite being cleared of any wrongdoing involving her team.

"I have never seen anything like this in 20 years," said Maxwell. "It's the most arbitrary, capricious decision I've ever seen."

Between 15 and 24 principals are expected to be forced out, according to Maxwell.

"What we do know is there there have been at least 10 principals who have been told they are not returning to their schools next year," she added.

Maxwell described the new set of criteria used to rank principals in the district as a "hit list."

Broward Schools Superintendent Robert Runcie wasn't available for comment Monday. Earlier in the day, he accepted over $15 million from Florida Gov. Rick Scott in School Recognition Program funding.