Antioch High Students Stage Walkout

ANTIOCH, TN — "A few hundred" Antioch High School students walked out of class Friday morning with a list of grievances ranging from the tempestuous firing of the school's football coach to complaints about low water pressure and moldy food in the cafeteria.

Shortly after 8 a.m., the students left the building and gathered around the school's flag pole. Metro School security was on the scene, but did not interfere.

WKRN's Larry Flowers was on the scene, but was asked to leave the property, though he did manage to short a report on his cell phone.

Though the protest — "Our School, Our Voice" appeared to be the somewhat official name — was sparked by the rollercoaster dismissal of football coach Mike Woodward, who was fired by the school's new principal who then later put the brakes on that call, and as of Thursday afternoon no final decision had been made, students told Flowers there was more to it than that. Students complained about low water pressure and being served moldy food in the cafeteria. Others said that they were not permitted to take the PSAT, the test which determines, among other things, eligibility for the National Merit Scholarship.

Metro Schools issued a statement shortly after the walk out made its way from the flag pole to the school's football field.

"A few hundred students at Antioch High School participated in a peaceful walkout today in response to a personnel issue involving the football coach. Personnel matters at schools are at the discretion of the principal. We are working with the administration at Antioch High School to resolve this issue with the community," the statement read.

Image via MNPS