TCA Students Rally To Support Embattled Principal

The controversy surrounding suspicious devices at The Classical Academy in Colorado Springs already has resulted in the resignation of the school’s president and in the high school principal being placed on leave pending an investigation.

However, some students believe no further action should be taken on principal Hugh DiPretore.

Justice Sutton, a junior at TCA, has organized a petition drive to support DiPretore, who is affectionately known as Mr. D to the students, and hopefully save his job.

Sutton said he agrees with some criticism that DiPretore acted too slowly and waited too long to involve police when several suspicious devices were found on campus last week. However, Sutton doesn’t believe the principal should be fired.

“I just kind of felt for him,” said Sutton. “Everyone makes mistakes.”

Sutton said he has gathered nearly 250 signatures and that the high school has about 560 students. He said he will continue to collect signatures and will present the petition to the school board at a special meeting Friday.

Sutton said the students have moved past last week’s incident, in which a classmate was charged.

“I know who he was,” said Sutton. “I didn’t know him personally. I don’t know why he (allegedly) did it. But we’re thinking about Mr. D now.”

The accused student is charged with possession, use or removal of an explosive or incendiary device {Class 4 Felony} and interference with staff or students of an educational facility. Because he is a juvenile, his name is not being released. It’s unclear if the student is being held in juvenile detention.

Police said two devices last week and a third device on an earlier unspecified date were found on school grounds. The contents included two camping propane tanks, marginally functioning flares, rubbing alcohol, a fuel cell for a model rocket, various smoking fireworks and some boxer shorts.

The devices were flammable but did not include an ignition source, police said.