Atlanta Public Schools is investigating if an employee intentionally crowned the wrong homecoming queen after tallied votes determined she wasn’t the winner.
The school system admitted there was a mistake in the crowning ceremony, but Derrick Jones — father of Douglass High School homecoming queen contestant Derrianna — said the act felt intentional.
“We believe it was a planned thing,” Jones told Channel 2 Action News.
“It’s alleged that a staff member made a unilateral decision that resulted in the error,” APS officials said in a statement. “The actions of the staff member are being investigated and appropriate disciplinary action will be taken. Atlanta Public Schools is committed to fairness, honesty and transparency. Dishonest behavior does not align with our core values. Atlanta Public Schools expects all staff members to abide by the district code of conduct, treating all students with respect and impartiality.”
The staffer’s name has not been released.
APS said Principal Ellis Duncan has decided to let the students be co-homecoming queens.
“The decision was made in deference to the fact that the incident which occurred was in no way the fault of the two students,” read the statement.
Jones told the news station his daughter won with 83 percent of the votes and will be crowned at the school’s pep rally, but he doesn’t think it’s fair for her to share.
“Regardless of what reason, this shouldn’t have been done,” he said.
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