HAZING CASE: Wilson coaches getting back to work?

Courts

July 7, 2009

School board may vote to lift suspensions of Baia, Atlas Tuesday

By April Amadon The Niagara Gazette Tue Jul 07, 2009, 06:17 PM EDT

When the Wilson school board meets Tuesday, one particular item on the agenda will likely gain more attention than any others: The possible reinstatement of Thomas Baia and William Atlas.

The two teachers and coaches had their child endangerment charges dropped in Wilson Town Court Monday and now they may have their suspensions lifted, Superintendent Michael Wendt said Tuesday.

While they may be reinstated as teachers, Wendt said they would not automatically become coaches again.

At noon today, the coaches will hold a press conference at Baia’s home, joined by Michael Paul, president of MGP & Associates, a New York City firm specializing in crisis public relations and reputation management.

Paul has been helping Baia and Atlas work to correct what he called “lies and innuendo” regarding the reported Wilson baseball hazing incident April 17, 2008.

“The coaches ... are ready for their voices to be heard,” Paul said in a press release. “The truth has finally set them free, but they both believe transparency and accountability still must prevail for this rush to judgment by law enforcement based on rumors, lies and innuendo to never happen again to any teacher, coach or citizen in New York state.”

Meanwhile, for the students at the high school, it’s been business as usual.

The dismissal of the charges against the coaches was more “for adults,” Wilson High School Principal Dan Johnson said.

“It really didn’t impact the students to a great extent,” he said.

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