By April Amadon<br><a href="mailto:amadona@gnnewspaper.com">E-mail April</a>
Lockport Union-Sun & Journal
WILSON
May 02, 2008 02:00 am
—
It was an emotionally charged night at Wilson High School, as hundreds of people packed the auditorium and gym to vent their frustrations about the alleged assault that has rocked the small community this past week.
The auditorium was already filled to standing-room-only a full half hour before the meeting was scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. People filled the balcony and then the gym across the hall, which was set up with closed-circuit video of the speakers in the auditorium.
Some were there to learn more about the investigation into the alleged incident. Others wanted to publicly declare their support for the coaches and teachers involved.
Many just wanted some answers.
“It takes a long time to put the pieces of this puzzle together,” said State Police Lt. Richard Allen, who spoke to the crowd about the status of the investigation. “We are in a tough situation. We can’t give out information or specific details that could hurt the criminal investigation or the prosecution down the road.”
The alleged incident reportedly occurred April 17 on a bus carrying members of the varsity and junior varsity baseball teams, as they returned to Wilson from games in Niagara Falls.
Three varsity baseball players have been charged with various counts of endangering the welfare of a child and third-degree aggravated sexual abuse for allegedly abusing members of the junior varsity team in the back of the bus.
Coaches Thomas Baia Jr. and William Atlas were each charged Tuesday with endangering the welfare of a child and have been suspended from both coaching and teaching.
The investigation continues, and state police say more charges may be filed.
What’s being done?
After a brief introduction, the floor was opened up for comments and questions from the audience. Residents and parents expressed concern about how the school is working to prevent future problems.
Superintendent Michael Wendt outlined the school’s plans, which include the creation of the Wilson Harassment and Intimidation Task Force, headed up by Principal Dan Johnson.
The task force, made up of people from all levels of the school and community, will make recommendations about school safety, Wendt said.
The school has begun strategically placing adults on buses to increase supervision.
For the past few days, two state troopers have been in place at the high school as school resource officers.
Several students stood up to express concern about the resource officers, some saying they did not trust the troopers and were uncomfortable having armed officers in the school.
“You may not need them, but the community might, and the parents might,” Johnson said in response. “We have attempted to react the best we could with the information we’ve been given.”
Nicole McKay, a Daniels Road resident, expressed concern about supervision in other areas, including locker rooms.
“What’s to say it’s not going to happen somewhere else?” she asked.
“We’re going to look at vulnerable areas,” Wendt replied. “We all play a role in safeguarding the well-being of our children. We will work together to this end.”
Defending coaches
Several former baseball players returned to the school, sitting together in the front row to show their support for Baia and Atlas.
“We know that if (Baia and Atlas) could have prevented this, they would have,” said Steve Geltz, 20, a 2005 graduate who played baseball for several years.
He said he was on the junior varsity team when Atlas began coaching.
“All through that, on the buses, all through senior year, nothing like this ever happened,” Geltz said. “It wouldn’t.”
“We would never allow it to happen,” said Dan Robinson, another 2005 graduate. “This would never happen with responsible young kids.”
Several people echoed those opinions. Some seemed emotional, choking back tears as they spoke about the coaches, while others placed blame for the alleged incident on the three arrested teens and their parents.
“This is not the fault of the coaches,” said Gary Benton, a Wilson resident. “The (blame) is on the parents of the perpetrators.”
Media attention
Several people expressed anger toward the group of reporters seated near the front of the auditorium.
Doug Edwards, a Randall Road resident, said the media “took this and ran with it.”
“We made national news because of this, and it’s still going on,” Edwards said. “The speculation is going to continue to go on. I’m angry, and I be willing to bet most of the people in this room are angry.”
Some people spoke about the shock of having TV news crews in their otherwise quiet community. Others said they are afraid the alleged incident may be the only thing Wilson is known for from now on.
“This is a tragic time for this community,” said Kim Simpson, whose son is on the junior varsity team. “These kids are devastated. They want to play ball. They don’t want this shoved in their faces.”
Several spoke about rampant rumors running through the town.
“Stop the gossip,” resident Gina Mock said. “Don’t even engage in it, because you’re just continuing the cycle of abuse.”
Looking ahead
In the hallway outside the auditorium, neon signs spelled out the goals of the school: “Wilson High School: We do what we are supposed to do, when it is supposed to be done, to the best of our ability, and we do it every time.”
Many people in the audience expressed a need to heal, to bounce back and focus on the positive aspects of the school.
Timothy Kropp, president of the Board of Education, said he believes the community will heal.
“These people are hurting. They’re hurting tremendously,” he said. “We’ve all come here for one thing to happen, to go on educating our kids.”
“The support of this community is evident,” Wendt said, referencing the size of the crowd. “I want to assure you, the school will return to normal.”
Contact reporter April Amadon at 439-9222, ext. 6251.
Copyright © 1999-2008 cnhi, inc.