The fate of Carroll High School’s band director has been set off for a 4th time.
DaSaree Play, band director of Carroll High School, was in city court Wednesday, ready for trial on misdemeanor charges of simple assault against a student.
Her attorney, Glen Fleming, argued for nearly two hours that city prosecutor J. Rodney Pierre should be recused from prosecuting the case because once, several years ago, he represented the complaining grand-parent in a civil matter. Fleming wanted the case referred to the District Attorney’s office.
The legal back and forth ended with the trial being postponed for a fourth time with a date to be determined.
Player was suspended from her duties as Band Director of Carroll High School in December of 2021 after she was arrested by citation on a misdemeanor charge of simple assault against a student.
Player’s case, though a misdemeanor, could have far-reaching career implications.
The incident, which reportedly happened in October of last year was a breach of the school district’s corporal punishment policy if proven to be true.
According to sources, Mrs. Player reportedly sat in a chair and had about 60 unruly students pass by her as she tapped each student once on the buttock with her paddle, including her own two children who were also band members.
Shortly after the paddling incident, Mrs. Player was reportedly informed by Eric Davis, principal, that a parent complained about the paddling incident. He ordered all paddling to stop, and Mrs. Player reportedly complied.
A month later, the complaining student reportedly left out of the band class without permission. The source said Mrs. Player found the student in the gymnasium talking on a cellphone.
Reprimanded, the student called home and reported the disciplinary subsequent write-up as a retaliation for the paddling report a month earlier.
The source said words were exchanged between the student’s parent and grandparent, after which Mrs. Player was accused of being unprofessional.
