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Le Roy substitute's services 'no longer needed' after alleged remark

By Howard B. Owens

The services of an unnamed substitute teacher will no longer be needed in the Le Roy Central School District, according to Superintendent Kim Cox

The teacher reportedly made an "insensitive comment related to the current health situation."

Cox said, "Given the poor judgment shown with respect to the comment, the individual was informed that his services were no longer needed by the district."

A reader who contacted The Batavian said the teacher made a remark about being glad he didn't live in Le Roy or "otherwise he would be ticking."

The incident comes on the heels of the reported dismissal of a basketball coach with York who allegedly tried to lead his team in a chant of "1, 2, 3, Tourette's" before a game in Le Roy. The players reportedly did not join in with the chant.

Thomas Mooney

WOW ,Kim Cox is a peach . Why is Kim Cox acting like we don't have a freedom of speech anymore . Maybe his comments were because he would have to pay for a 70000 study from a company that has no clue how to sample if he were a Leroy resident. Yes , Leader is a joke , they have contacted the county on proper procedures of soil and water sampling. So basicaly you are wasting money for testing that will be done on the same guidlines of the County but yet the County's sampling wasn't good enough . Kim Cox is the thorn in the bush and now she is back peddling and making smoke screens to save her over paid job . I too am glad I don't live in LeRoy and it has less to do with ticks than it does Kim Cox's way of handling things at the exspense of taxpayers.

Feb 17, 2012, 2:19pm Permalink
Kyle Couchman

LOL I love the freedom of speech comment Thomas threw in there. No one stopped him from excercising his freedom of speech. You must realize that while you have the freedom of speech, it doesn not make you immune to the consequences of using that freedom. If you go into a crowded theater and yell FIRE and people are killed in the resulting stampede for the exits then you can be arrested, tried and sent to prison for manslaughter, reckless endangerment or whatever charge you want to apply. Same goes here... Ms Cox isnt my favorite person and I do agree with your assessment of her conduct as of late. But saying she is violating freedom of speech is going a little too far.

Feb 17, 2012, 2:44pm Permalink
Tom Frew

So there's some interesting exchange here. First of all, forget about the freedom of speach. When a person accepts a position as an educator, in my opinion, they accept a responsibility for acting as an adult and with class and professionalism as an educator. They should be the living example of ethical behavior. The LeRoy School District has made a concerted effort to mitigate "Bullying" and there are many kinds of bullying. I would suggest bullying of these kids by a Student Teacher should not be tolerated and the actions taken were spot on. Bullying is as much mental as it is physical.

Secondly, I know several professionals in the Health and Environmental Field. These are people who've dealt with nastier stuff than any of the rumored chemicals in question. One of these people is a former school board member in Churchville-Chili. His feelings, based on all the publicity, is that Ms. Cox has dealt exactly as she should in these matters. These most recent tests might not be necessary I agree. I'd like to see the money spent on education. My thought is these tests are aimed at putting this whole issue to bed once and for all so you guys will have something new to make pointless issue.

Feb 17, 2012, 5:56pm Permalink
John Stone

The world is full of people that engage their mouth before they fully engage their intellectual abilities. It happens to all of us. Find me one person that has never made a comment that others could consider as unthinking or offensive, and I'll grant you the deed to all of Genesee County...
However, if you haven't really thought a comment through before you utter it, you may very well have some sort of consequence to pay as a result, exactly as seen in this situation.
Yes, we are (supposedly) free to say what we want in this country, but we will have to deal with some sort of fallout if it offends others, especially peoples' children...

Feb 17, 2012, 6:21pm Permalink
Mike Piazza

Tom, does your belief that "When a person accepts a position as an educator, in my opinion, they accept a responsibility for acting as an adult and with class and professionalism as an educator. They should be the living example of ethical behavior" iDoes this include phys ed teachers & coaches? The only reason I am bringing this up is, last year, one of our gym teachers/coaches broke his hand in a faculty basketball game because he missed a shot and lost his anger and punched the wall, thus, breaking his hand. In front of ALL to see. Or, the sexual assault on the LeRoy boys basketball team. One student got suspended for 2 games and another for the rest of the season(about 10 games). Nothing for the coach. Hmm, I see the York boys modified bball coach was dismissed from coaching for doing a tourette chant before their game against LeRoy. Or a girls basketball coach (Buffalo area school)that was dismissed for physically moving one of his players during a game after she was assessed a technical foul and was "jawing" at the ref. The coach tried to prevent his player from getting another tech. foul and automatic ejectction. Result? Coach was dismissed for physically moving his player to the bench. Or the Warsaw boys Varsity coach, they had a hazing incident and it resulted in a player getting his jaw broken. The coach wasn't even in the area or room of the incident but received a 3 month suspension from coaching the wrest and he had an unblemished record at the school for 25 yrs. All these incidences occurred the past 2 mos.
Maybe its' just me, but I think an incident the sexual assault incident was the most serious of the above mentioned but was treated the least lenient.

I can bring up other things regarding our teachers and administration, but I'm already a little bit off the subject matter that you brought up.

Feb 17, 2012, 6:41pm Permalink
Lisa Falkowski

It seems to me that there is more to the story here. With the volumes of stuff going on in and around LeRoy, this one single substitute teacher takes a thump on the head? Without more information, it seems (to me) that this man is getting the brunt of others' frustration and/or need to punish for what's going on with those kids. There is missing information here. I'd like to know more. I would hope that this single individual has not had his future as a teacher ruined over misplaced anger. Hearts out to those families and the entire LeRoy community.

Feb 17, 2012, 8:04pm Permalink
Tom Frew

Michael, I think each incident stands on its own. In this case, the coach/teacher/student teacher did something pretty flagrant. He did it, not a student, or athlete under his guidance. Each situation stands on it's own. I know a couple of kids got disciplined last year for that incident. I don't remember a coach trying to cover it up but it occurred outside of the control of the coach (in the locker room, when he wasn't present). It was dealt with accordingly. Who knows what was said behind closed doors to the coach about being more visible. I was a coach 30 years ago at the old Cardinal Mooney in Rochester. You can't be everywhere. I coached and taught right out of college. I was 5 years older than the seniors when I started. I knew, no hanky panky and you'd better be very discioplined cause you are young and they will try to get away with murder with you. Those kids today (early 50's!!!) marvel at how tough I was with them and how they could not crack me. In three years, we won 85% of the games we played. The best compliment I could get and kids who played for me, "I wish my kids could have you as a coach!!" I'll add, I'm glad I left teaching and coaching, I would have never survived. Kids today are undisciplined and much of it lies with their parents. Time to get off my hobby horse. One more thing. Look at the most succesful coaches long term coaches in Section V, I'll show you a coach with discipline. Ed Nietopski was my old boss at Mooney. Winningest baseball and basketball coach in Section V............a master disciplinarian. Mike Rapone, ND of Batavia.... very disciplined. "Sticks" McMullen originally from LeRoy and an Ithaca grad at Letchworth.... disciplined. Lastly, Dave Gillette from Bergen, hoop coach at Perry who doesn't know what losing is about, disciplined and organized. Both are the root of success in coaching. Knowledge is secondary to discipline in high school coaching.

Feb 17, 2012, 9:38pm Permalink
John Woodworth JR

I am not supporting what the Sub did but, the punishment in this case outweighs the offense. What he did was unprofessional but, does not warrant dismissal. This is not bullying issue as some have mention in above comments. Now this is hearsay but, from what I was informed, that this sub just stated, he was glad he was from Pavilion and not LeRoy because, of the "TICs issue". There was no malice intent behind his comment according to some. Was it insensitive? Depends on who you ask. I think MS. Coxs should have issued a memorandum for record. Now the York Coach, was wrong because, his chant was malice intent, even his players saw that. I do think people need to be so damn sensitive though. People's feelings get hurt way too easy.

BTW, I saw with my own eyes one of the girls who was said to suffer from Tics this Saturday. Not a twitch from her for the five hours I saw her that day.

Feb 21, 2012, 10:24am Permalink

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