Lincoln Memorial Prep application raises questions. Goal remains the same, Poole says

Several people have come forward and disputed their reported connections to Lincoln Memorial Prep Academy, a proposed charter school backed by NFL player Brian Poole Jr.

The Bradenton Herald reported on a charter application from Florida Prep Academies on Tuesday morning. The application — filed in January and recently obtained by the newspaper — listed several members of a governing board and an advisory team.

Reggie Bellamy, a Manatee County commissioner; and Tarnisha Cliatt, president of the Manatee NAACP, were listed as members of the proposed advisory team. Both rejected that claim on Tuesday morning.

“I have not agreed to be a part of any advisory board, period,” Bellamy said.

“This is the first time I heard about my name being used,” Cliatt said. “I didn’t know the name of the company or anything.”

Herb Washington, an accomplished sprinter and entrepreneur, was listed as a member of the governing board. He rejected that claim on Tuesday evening.

Washington said he spoke with the NFL player’s father, Brian Poole Sr., at some point in December.

They discussed a new charter school, along with a possible role on an advisory board, and Washington said he asked for more information about the finances and the people involved — something he never received.

“I’m all about educating kids on how we can make the system work for them, but I want to do it the right way and with the right people,” he said.

In response, Poole Sr. maintained that all parties were contacted in advance, and that Florida Prep Academies’ application was formed with care. He said all three names would be removed from the list, and he said his son’s goal remained the same.

What is Lincoln Memorial Prep?

The younger Poole graduated from Southeast High School and played football at the University of Florida. Now a member of the New York Jets, he wanted to give back through education, according to a news release.

Lincoln Memorial Academy, at the corner of U.S. 41 and 17th Street East in Palmetto, was converted into a charter about two years ago. The School Board of Manatee County voted to terminate that charter last July, citing issues with Lincoln’s finances and leadership.

An administrative law judge upheld the decision in September, and the school’s former leaders are now fighting the decision in a state appeals court.

“My intent is not to undermine the efforts of LMA, but to provide a viable option where I can partner with the community and Manatee County as a solution in the event that LMA’s appeal isn’t successful,” Poole said in a prepared statement.

His application is requesting a charter, meaning the school would operate under new organization and a similar name: Lincoln Memorial Prep Academy. The application is pending during the ongoing appeal.

Poole was concerned that an out-of-town company would apply for a charter and take control of the school, should the appeal fail.

“The rich heritage of Lincoln is undeniable,” he said in the news release. “The success of this school is essential for the community of Palmetto, so my concern for the future of the institution led me to submit an application contingent upon the outcome of the LMA appeal.”

The release said Poole was considering several options, “in addition to the contingent opportunity at Lincoln.”

This story was originally published April 15, 2020 at 8:03 AM.