HEMPSTEAD, Texas – A head coach in Hempstead has been fired and four others have been suspended after two students were left in another town following a track meet.
According to Hempstead ISD, during a stop on the ride back home from a track meet in Elgin last week, Darius Battles and Ronnie Jones got off the bus at Giddings without permission to go to a local restaurant. They were left behind.
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The school board held a special meeting Monday night to decide on punishment for the coaches.
The mothers of both students said they were happy with the school district's decision.
"I was furious and I was even madder when I called the coach because you can't tell me why my child is not on the bus and you didn't feed him, which is the main reason he got off the bus is to get something to eat," said Lisa Ragston, one of the mothers.
Witnesses said the coach gave the students several warnings to get back on the bus, but they did not. The students were also described as "very unruly."
Giddings is 55 miles from Hempstead.