Ringling HS Students Plan Walkout Over Claims Of Abuse, OSBI Investigation

Students at Ringling High School are set to walk out of class Monday morning over claims of abuse and an investigation with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, according to an attorney representing two anonymous students.

Monday, May 1st 2023, 9:32 am

By: News 9


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Students at Ringling High School walked out of class Monday morning over claims of abuse and an investigation with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, according to an attorney representing two anonymous students.

This all centers around an investigation into the Ringling High School principal and head football coach Philip Koons.

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

Parents said students have been verbally abused and threatened by the coach and principal for years.

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

Four students claim the Koons forced them to do "up-down" exercises naked together in a turf locker room.

Several students claimed in statements that the coach and principal "used racial slurs about players and refs."

Despite the Ringling Police turning the investigation over to the OSBI, the school board there voted to keep Koons on staff earlier this year. 

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

In a statement, the State Department of Education told News 9: “We are in communication with the investigators and are closely tracking the progress of their investigation.”

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

News 9's Anjelicia Bruton was outside of Ringling High School Monday afternoon and will have the latest developments during News 9 at 5 p.m. on Monday

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