home > news > local

Broward School Board Upholds Cheer Coach's Firing

Supporters of cheerleading coach accused of bullying students can't get firing overturned

Wednesday, Oct 3, 2012 | Updated 8:56 AM EDT

View Comments (

)

Getty Images

Photos and Videos

LOOK

PHOTOS
NFL Cheerleaders 2012:
Ladies of the Gridiron

LOOK

PHOTOS
Four Decades of
Dolphins Cheerleaders

More Photos and Videos

The Broward County School Board heard hours of testimony from parents but in the end decided not to intervene in the firing of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School cheerleading coach.

The Miami Herald reports about 75 supporters of Melissa Prochilo attended the board meeting on Tuesday in Fort Lauderdale. Prochilo blamed school board politics for her ouster.

Critics of Prochilo say she bullied students and allowed the cheer captain to bully others on the team. They also say she pressured parents to contribute large amounts of money to the booster club and told cheerleaders to forge their parents' signatures on field trip forms.

The newspaper says Prochilo's supporters say the parents who complained are on a "witch hunt" because their daughters didn't have starring roles on the team.

Cheerleaders Told No Bible Verses on Signs

PHOTOS: NFL Cheerleaders: Super Bowl Edition