HEMPSTEAD, Texas – A high school coach who had been voted to be fired for leaving two students behind during a track meet has been reinstated.
According to a statement from the Hempstead Independent School District, on the ride back to Hempstead, the coaches left two members of the boys track team in Giddings after the boys exited the emergency door of the bus to go to a restaurant.
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The five coaches on the trip were immediately placed on leave pending the district's full investigation.
After receiving the report, the school board proposed to fire the head boys' track team coach, who directed the other coaches to leave the two students behind. The board also voted to propose 30-day suspensions without pay for the remaining four coaches.
On Monday, the board deliberated on the issue again. After hearing from the community, parents, students and the coaches, the board voted to rescind the proposed termination of the head boys' track team coach and the proposed suspensions of the four other coaches.
In a statement, the district said it believes its message that students should be supervised at all times during school-sponsored on campus or off-campus activities was received. The district said bringing the coaches back to work was best for all the parties involved.