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Everybody in Le Roy is talking, but nobody is talking

By Howard B. Owens

Something happened two weeks ago involving a few Le Roy High School basketball players.

As near as we can tell, it was a serious matter.

Judging by the reaction of some students the following Tuesday (wearing T-shirts in support of one of the alleged aggressors in the situation) and the reaction of the father of the possible alleged victim, emotions were running high around this issue.

WHAM-13's Sean Carroll has been looking into this matter, and I have had numerous conversations with sources as well. There have also been other reporters looking into the issue.

At this point, it appears everybody has lawyered up and clammed up. 

Given the seriousness of the allegations on both sides, it's hard to just shrug and say, "well, it's just some sort of private matter."

It's especially difficult to take that stance when several, shall we say, well-placed Le Roy residents and community leaders keep telling me, "there's more to this," and "you need to keep digging," and "don't let this go."

Kim Cox, the Le Roy Central School District superintendent, cites student confidentially for her unwillingness to discuss the situation, but not all of the questions either Sean or I are asking are covered by student confidentially laws or policies. 

For example, she refused to answer a question regarding some sort of public conflict at a basketball game saying, "the matter is under investigation." The problem with that answer is that it isn't under investigation as far as we can tell. Supposedly, students have been told not to talk to anybody about that incident (or the other) and the police have not been called in to investigate it.

The school board is no less uncooperative. I called four school board members. Two did not return messages, a third said repeatedly "no comment" and a fourth hung up on me.

It's troubling when people whom we regard as highly credible and responsible people are telling us "there's more to this" and "keep digging" and at the same time the school district appears to be taking every step possible to keep a lid on it.

There are serious allegations here involving young people, so it is a very sensitive situation, but it's hard to be confident that it's being handled appropriately when district officials put up a stone wall.

Sean Carroll put out a call in his blog post for witnesses to come forward. I would also welcome information from direct witnesses to either of these incidents. It's hard to say if any this will ever lead to a "story."

But given the requests of knowledgable people not to let this drop, it seems important to let readers know we're concerned that these events may just get swept under the rug.

Sarah K

Geez are the students safe at the school? Lawyers or no lawyers why hasn't the principal, superindendent, or even a member of the school board made a statement assuring the community, most of all parents of the children who go to Le Roy, of their efforts to make sure that this is resolved as necessary? Heck even a canned statement is better than no statement at all, isn't it? And unless the entire school is under a gag order telling the students not to talk about this sounds like a threat? Is the LeRoy School District into intimidation now? Might be a good time to review their anti-bullying campaign, hopefully they have one.
Apparently at a time when community support and involvement is most necessary for the benefit of students the school has decided to close it's doors. Please just let me know the community is safe.

Feb 22, 2011, 8:39pm Permalink

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