(UPDATED) Washburn HS under Code Yellow as Students Protest AD Firing

Washburn High School is under a "Code Yellow" Monday in response to a planned student walk-out to protest the firing of Athletic Director Dan Pratt.

See these related Southwest Minneapolis Patch posts:

• Students Talk Washburn HS Walkout on Twitter
• Dan Pratt Supporters Begin Online Petition

Update (10:20 a.m. Monday): Washburn student-athlete Felicia McRae told WCCO-AM students are willing to be suspended to help save Pratt's job. "We're trying to support someone we love and care about," she told the station.

Original post (10 a.m. Monday): The Star Tribune reported Monday: 

District spokeswoman Rachel Hicks said this weekend that the alert, which normally is declared in response to a perceived security threat at a school, is being imposed as a precaution.

Students are rallying in support of Pratt, and said that he has been told he is being fired. The district disclosed last week, in answer to a Star Tribune inquiry, that it is investigating Pratt for a “private personnel matter.”

In an earlier article, the Star Tribune said the purchase of a new scoreboard prompted the firing:

Others familiar with the matter say the scoreboard price exceeded $100,000 and an issue has been raised whether Pratt, who operates under dual school and athletic department supervision, obtained proper authorization for the purchase. Pratt’s defenders say that the cost of the scoreboard was not budgeted in the project that replaced the field surface.

Student sentiment is on Pratt's side, a graduate athlete told the Star Tribune in the newspaper's first story about the situation last week:

"He's always been nothing but the best,’’ said Jamison Whiting, senior football player who has committed to play at Northern Iowa. “I've never seen him do anything [questionable]. I was surprised when I heard, but sensed it was coming."