MUSKEGON, Mich. (WWJ/AP) - A school bus driver and aide who ordered several western Michigan elementary students to get off a bus for eating and sharing a bag of chips have been fired.

Muskegon Public Schools Superintendent Matthew Cortez says the students left the bus Wednesday afternoon, several stops before they should have.

The district didn't specify how many students were involved, but said older students helped the younger kids stay safe afterward.

None of the children were physically hurt.

Cortez said in a letter to parents there's "no excuse for this kind of behavior," adding that the driver and aide were placed on leave while the district launched an investigation.

“It confirmed how the actions of the driver and aide put students at risk,’’ he wrote. “Their actions were deplorable and violated district policies, ethics and protocol.”

Cortez said he met with the students involved and has reached out to and apologized to their parents.

“While I cannot undo what happened, I am sorry for the offensive actions of these two people, and I will make sure they are never allowed to transport our students again," he wrote.

The bus company, Dean Transportation, says the bus driver and bus monitor were fired Friday following an investigation. Their names weren't released.

The company has apologized, saying the actions of the two were in violation of company policy.

"The safety of our students is our first commitment," said Kellie P. Dean, president and CEO of Dean Transportation, in a statement provided to MLive. "Dean has reinforced the training, policies, and protocols to our employees to ensure a similar incident does not happen in the future.”