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Booker T. Washington athletics investigation

Reported by: Jason Grubbs
Email: grubbs@kjrh.com
Last Update: 11/05/2009 10:18 am
Tulsa Public Schools administrators say the Booker T. Washington athletics investigation is done.

It found that more three dozens students were ineligible while playing sports.

There's also been a shake-up in the high school leadership.

"We didn't really know what was going on. There were rumors all over the hallways," high school senior Marilyn Leonard was among a handful of students with questions for their superintendent.

They watched as Dr. Keith Ballard talked about the findings of the investigation.

"We have tried to deal with those in an ethical and swift manner," Dr. Ballard says 37 students were ineligible when they competed in softball, volleyball, cross country and football.

That will result in the forfeiture of several games including a volleyball championship.

"What grieves me most about this whole process is that the harm that has been done to students," Dr. Ballard said.

Principal Michael Johnson has also asked to be transferred out of the school; TPS administrators don't know where he'll be placed.

Meanwhile, veteran educator and former Booker T. Principal James Furch will run things for the next few days, "We've already talked with the students and told them look this is just a set back, we're going to keep your head up, let's keep going."

That is exactly what Leonard and her friends say they plan to do.

She says the fall-out from the investigation goes beyond the athletics department, "Even though the football players are feeling it, we're feeling [it] because we're all linked in one."

Dr. Ballard hopes to have an interim-principal named within the week.

To read the entire report, click on the related links.





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