Whatever dreams some may have harbored about seeing former Washburn High School athletic director Dan Pratt return to his old post were well and truly dashed on Monday.
In a press release, the Rockford, MN schools announced Pratt has joined the district as its new Activities Director. Pratt will oversee 20 sports and other programs that serve the Rockford Public Schools' 800 students.
Pratt was Washburn's athletic director for 13 years, where he oversaw a similar number of sports programs serving 1,162 students. Former Principal Carol Markham-Cousins removed Pratt in a dispute over how he paid for the school's scoreboard. Student and parent protests over that and other actions eventually forced the Minneapolis Public Schools to remove Markham-Cousins as well.
The district's search to replace both is still ongoing with a little over a month before school starts.
“I am thrilled to be joining such a great school district and staff," Pratt was quoted as saying in the Rockford Public Schools' press release. "I look forward to continue to build on an already strong program that is committed to ensuring that athletic, club and fine arts activities fully address the diverse needs of all students."
The press release explained Pratt landed his new job because Rockford is planning major athletics-related renovation or expansion projects. The district was impressed by his past championing of similar "site and facility improvements," and wanted his "stable leadership and expertise" as they planned their improvements.
“I am delighted that Dan has accepted our offer to lead our growing activities department,” said Rockford Superintendent Paul Durand. "I see it as our gain after Washburn chose to go in a different direction. It's a great opportunity for us. He'd never have been on the job market otherwise."
Durand told Patch that the controversy surrounding Pratt's removal from Washburn was crucial to Rockford's decision.
"I saw someone who was very professional and classy in the middle of controversy," Durrand said. "There are always controversies around big projects like ours. He handled [the Washburn controversy] extremely professionally."
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