District administrators recommend firing Jacksonville coach after student drove school bus

Jacksonville North Pulaski School District administrators recommended terminating the employment contract of coach Willie Larry Jr. after reviewing video footage and student statements that show a student driving a school bus on Feb. 7, 2025.

The recommendation, read into the record by Dr. O'Laughton, said investigators found a violation of board policy 3.27, which requires supervising students at all times. "We found that he was in violation of board policy 3.27 for not supervising students at all times ... and so, therefore, I recommended termination, because of that," Dr. O'Laughton said during the hearing.

The administration's packet included student statements, a video from inside the gym showing a coach handing keys to a student, and bus camera footage that administrators said captures the bus being started and driven. Dr. O'Laughton told the…