GATESVILLE, TX — Concerned parents from Gatesville Junior High reached out to 25 News after this message was sent from Coach Greig Keeton:
In a message to parents, Coach Keeton says right now there are 16 football players that are benched because of bad grades and have until next Friday to get their grades back up if they want to play.
"At the beginning of the year, they're told you need to pass with a certain percentage in order to be able to play or be involved in these athletics," says Amber Meyer, who has two student-athletes in Gatesville High school.
According to the Gatesville District Student Athletic Code of Conduct, athletes are expected to be good students first and foremost.
And if a student is failing a class and isn't showing improvement they will be asked to leave athletics until those grades improve.
"I think it's important for students to be involved in athletics, to balance that... You need to know education comes first," says Meyer.
Meyer says the pandemic has made the life of student-athletes much more difficult.
"My son, he did struggle a little bit, but Gatesville ISD gives your students the tools to succeed," says Meyer.
At Gatesville ISD, parents could choose to send students back in person or stay with virtual learning.
The district provided Chromebooks for students to check out, as well as free wifi around its primary, elementary and intermediate campuses.
"So if you're struggling, I know first hand those teachers will offer you tutoring, before-after school. They give those hours," says Meyer.
Meyers says parents need to monitor student's grades and keep in constant communication with teachers to make sure student-athletes succeed both in the classroom and on the field.
"My children's teachers, some of them even come to watch them play, because they've grown that relationship through helping them. Take advantage of that, contact your teachers, just be in communication with them, they want to help you and they will," says Meyer.
School leaders will rule students who get a failing grade on the coming report card ineligible to play until their grades improve.
Gatesville Athletic Director sent this message out to parents:
