By:Hector Flores
Vernet's announcement came during a news conference at the State Court House in Mineola, where he was accompanied by his attorney Thomas Liotti and three other former high school coaches -- Kevin McElroy, Art Canestro and Irwin Wolosky.
In November 2003, the district removed the coaches after three freshmen football players were sexually assaulted by three older teammates at a training camp in Pennsylvania. The incident resulted in the arrest and conviction of the three older players.
At the time, the Board of Education said the coaches could not be reinstated because to do so would potentially disrupt the school's football program. Liotti, however, said the board ousted the coaches under pressure brought by lawsuits that the victims' families eventually filed against the district.
Liotti said the coaches did everything in their power to secure a safe trip, but had not foreseen the possibility of sexual attacks. Liotti added that there were district residents who disagreed with the board's decision to remove the coaches, noting that 300 people signed a petition calling for the coaches' reinstatement.
"This board is supposed to be representative of the people that it serves," Liotti said. "How can that happen when the people it supposedly represents had no say in their election in the first place?"
According to state education law, in central districts such as Bellmore-Merrick, only board trustees in the component elementary districts can appoint members to the central high school board.
Dr. Thomas Caramore, the Bellmore-Merrick Central District superintendent, offered this reaction to Vernet's lawsuit: "Once again, the coaches are attempting to use the media to distract from the true issues at stake. Their actions just compound the tragedy that has already confronted the victims and our community. We remain committed to healing our school district and community by following the laws and guidelines of New York state."
Vernet's lawsuit calls for:
¥A court declaration calling the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District unconstitutional;
¥An order to dissolve the Board of Education;
¥An order requiring the Central High School District to hold open elections for the Central District board;
¥And an injunction to halt the current board from conducting business until Central District residents vote on the board.
