Ringling High Schools Students, Parents Protest After Abuse Allegations

Students at Ringling High School said they've been verbally abused by several teachers and the football coach. They walked out Monday demanding change.

Several members of the Ringling community are upset despite the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation looking into abuse allegations at Ringling High School and their football coach Phillip Koons for months.

Related: Ringling Residents Take Action Against Head Coach, State Dept. Of Education Responds

“Who do you call? Who do you talk to you? As a parent, I feel very helpless,” Angela Simmons, a parent, said.

Members of the senior class issued a statement saying staff members have mocked them and embarrassed them in front of their fellow classmates. It goes on to say it feels like life is being sucked out of them. Kyle Simmons said.. 

“I'm quite frankly tired of getting targeted and being told to get in a closet to complete ingenuity (online school) work. I'm tired of having like thoughts of like me not being good enough because these teachers want to go out of their way and not do their job,” Kyle Simmons, a senior, said.

Tod Mercer is representing 10 victims accusing coach Koons of child abuse and civil rights violations and said the school board can no longer ignore these issues. They want Koons replaced.

“Main reason it’s going to ruin the reputation of their football program and their funding. They’ve been warned multiple times about this stuff,” Simmons said.

Related: Parents Expressed Concern Years Ago Over Ringling Head Coach Hire

Koons is on administrative leave. Mercer said they plan to file a federal civil rights case. 

Related: Ringling Football Coach Placed On Paid Administrative Leave After Harassment Allegations

News 9 has reached out to the superintendent and have yet to hear back.

Related: Ringling School Board Votes To Keep Staff Member Following Several Concerns Of Verbal Abuse

“These kids are dealing with enough stress. This stuff has got to stop,” Simmons said.