The James Daye dilemma

   Some of his colleagues consider McKinley High's James L. Daye one of the very best basketball and football coaches in the Buffalo School District.

   And some of his colleagues have serious questions about Daye's conduct, including the belief held by some that he was responsible for the dismissal of volunteer girls basketball coach Michelle Stiles.

   There is also an allegation that he had a sexual relationship with a student at a South Carolina school, where he coached in 1991.

   Daye has been suspended with pay since March. He has been in a self-imposed cone of silence since the allegations about Stiles' removal were first reported in The Buffalo News in January.

   On Friday, Daye broke his silence in a long interview with two News reporters. He talked about his life, his love of coaching and addressed many of the allegations surrounding him and Stiles. He refused to talk about the South Carolina allegations.

   Daye insists he's getting a raw deal from the Buffalo School Board and Superintendent James Williams. He said he has never been formally told why he was placed on suspension. He said he wants to work for his salary - $63,000 a year, plus coaching stipends - and he says his players need him.

   What do you think Buffalo Schools officials should do about Daye - reinstate him, keep him under suspension or fire him?

   It's a decision that School Board members will have to make eventually.

   - Dan Herbeck and Peter Simon

Comments

[t.]

Poor James Day. He's "tired of people walking by and whispering about me."
Gee, James, I wonder why people would be whispering about you. If I walked by, I may not be whispering.
You, James, are a disgrace to the teaching profession. We'll just add your name to the growing list of people like Crystal Barton, the coaches in Wilson, the myriad of other local "professionals" who have abused children, lost their certifications and completely forgotten what position they hold in children's lives. The Teacher's Union in Buffalo, Phil Rumore, James Willams, the highly conflicted School Board are seen as nothing but a bunch of self- gratifying, hot-headed idiots who have made the headlines for all the wrong reasons.
I recently became part of the teaching profession
(in my middle years) and must admit that I am terribly embarrassed by the behavior of people who I should be able to look up to as mentors.
Another question - since when does being a great coach make you a good teacher? I have yet to read one reference to James Daye's teaching abilities - his students' academic achievements - just repetitive comments about his "great" coaching. To my knowledge, there is no New York State certification in "Coaching." What does he do in his classroom? Is he helping contribute to the deplorable graduation rates in the city of Buffalo?
2007 BMW Sports Utility Vehicle, $1100/wk. paycheck for not working, wife who is an orthopedic surgeon, four sons who have to deal with the emotional hardships he is enduring.
Hey, James: Who created the "hardships?" You did. Your family now has to live with being mortified and disheartened. Look what a loser they have for a parent and husband.
Can someone in Western NY please be recognized for contributing to our teaching profession, instead of constantly putting us out there as greedy, inappropriate, self- absorbed union lemmings?

[Lydia Bezou-Hojnacki]

Why is this man on PAID administrative leave, and why is the UNION continuing to defend him? Does the BTF fight this persuasively for everyone who is an "outstanding teacher" in a core subject?

Let him go......stop paying this brute. Let him volunteer; others have done so when passionate about sports.

[I Love Broken Gold]

..I don't understand this part - someone please explain. Why is Rumore so vocal in his support of this cretin and Barton. Is that normal? I don't remember him going out of his way to defend other teachers. There would be no reason for the brave young woman from S Carolina to lie this late in the game. I think her only intention is/was to warn the community. A predator in our high schools - scary. Aren't credentials checked? He has only himself to blame. I pity his wife and children for the humiliation - their husband and father is a sexual predator.

[bflo]

Just remember, for all of you that are judging... what comes around goes around! You have no idea what the whole story is. You may or may not feel differently about this man but, you most definitely would think twice before you start talking about someone without fully knowing the whole truth. You are judging someone's life like it means nothing! Have you not ever been accused of doing something you did not do?? You are assuming there are not reasons for doing so but, you also know what happens when you ASSUME something.... By the way Lydia, do you have a job? Is blogging your job? I would ASSUME that it is because you blog like it's nobodies business!

[high school football fan]

The boys at mckinley need him. He is the best coaching role model at the school. The boys love him and value the teaching he gives them both on and off the court and field.

[Ron]

Rumore is paid to defend every union member he serves. He is not there to protect children or to make education better. His job is to fight for the rights and befits of the members of the union. Right or wrong...... thta is his job!

[Lydia Bezou-Hojnacki]

Dear Bflo: I am a retired teacher--been there, done that, and I have some great credentials. You can look me up on the state website for teacher certification........also a member of ASCD, Phi Delta Kappa, NCTM, AVA, and have been published. I have also facilitated professional development.

Yes, I am a wizened sage in education. But I keep very busy with a wide variety of community and household interests. I frequently take breaks at the computer while engaged in farming, carpentry, painting, church activities, school board meetings, neighborhood activism, tutoring and mentoring immigrants, and picking up trash to beautify my neighborhood. Bye, I'll be busy for about the next seven hours today............

[bflo]

Lydia, a little defensive? I too am also a member of many of the same organizations. I also am extremely busy and wonder why people FIND the time to judge others so harshly?? Since you are a retired teacher I am sure you are well aware of the "scandals" and the "behind the scenes events" that occur within a building and the district. Many times unless you are directly involved or are close with someone that has all the relevant information, do you not fully ever know the entire story... correct? That is how rumors are produced, correct again? Why are there so many people that THRIVE on the negative things or WANT to believe all the harsh and negative non-truths?? It is truly MADNESS that that is what sells!!! Do you know for sure who is telling the truth in this whole situation?? You may never truly know!! But what I do know is unless you truly do know, that you should not judge or ASSUME that you do! Do you know why?? Because someday it will come right back to haunt all of you that are!! In one form or another and as long as many of you continue to do so you will THRIVE in your own misery! Just remember... misery loves company!

[Howard]

What an absolute joke. The Buffalo News will remove this comment too, like others from tis nonsense. Why they would give Daye a forum to LIE is cheap remdial reporting, tabloid tactics. The News should be ashamed of its lack of depth and idiot mentality just to sell a few 50 cent papers. Cheap. This guy is to be ignored. Why don't you give students the forum to talk about his advances, inapporpritae comments, behavior, and his relentless pursuit of his next victim. This is a farce, its embarassing, and the news is playing righ tinto the hands of Barton, Daye who are pre-empting the giant lawsuit about to really hit the board from Stiles & Kincannon.

[Howard]

Daye is an embarrassment. Refusal to talk about the very thing he is suspended for. What about the 5 jobs he was fired from? Niagara U? Ev ery job he has had he has lost due to his inability to keep his pants on. Idiot. He should be fined for being such an idiot.

[B. Real]

I wish these people would just go far far away i'm so tired of reading about them .Rumore sounds like the mouth piece he is . He's NOT there for the kids never have been he needs to" poof be gone" too.

[robert james]

"$63,000 a year, plus coaching stipends"

WOW!

I'll remember this the next time I hear about the "poor, overworked and underpaid teachers" from them or their union mouthpieces.

[rj]

our subject IS an excellent coach. however, the reputation will never be the same. and that may make all the difference. one little meeting where he was present caused all of this. other than to provide derogatory information about ms. stiles, there was no other reason to be there. his need for revenge has ruined his life. too bad the news reporters were also hypnotized by this handsome, impressive man, and wasted countless lines of print. and barton's attempt to have him partially reinstated smacks out loud of insubordination, no surprise there.

[WNYMind]

Good story Buffalo News. I look forward to the follow up story on the school board hearing. I see others have asked for interviews with students. I hope you go and get a cross section of students at the schools to talk about the teachers, coaches, etc....

I suspect that would put this fiasco to rest once and for all.

[Lydia Bezou-Hojnacki]

Bflo: Who's miserable over this situation with Daye? Not I--have never met the guy......lighten up, Bflo. I don't know you and you don't know me. And I'm not looking for company because I'm not miserable, except that the rain has dampened my house-painting plans. Maybe I can get the second coat on before dusk, if the rain clears.

[Danno]

Fire him already! Where is your common sense, school administrators? The very first post by "t" says it all. Daye is the guy whose behavior started this whole mess. Do we believe the "adult cousin" story for a minute? What parent of a high school girl, after reading Daye's "resume", would ever want to send their daughter to Buffalo Public Schools? The morons actually hired a sexual predator, and they can't let him go? He's a lawsuit waiting to happen.

[high school football fan]

Go to mckinley's football practice monday morning at 9 AM tomorrow, behind mckinley. Do some interviews with students, get their side of the story.

[Realistic]

Lydia or Stiles:

Don't you have anything else to do but trash the students and teachers from the BPS. I am a friend of Daye's and proud to admit it. You sit at home bloggers have nothing to do but criticize the city. When was the last time you donated your time to read to K -3 kids in the city. You evidently squander the day wondering how to degrade the teachers and students of the city. How would you like it if someone vandalized your car or called you racist names? How would you like it if someone took away your bucket of curly fries and chicken? Go exercise or do something positive but until you know what's going on, SHUT THE &^%^% UP! I for one am sick and tired of your moaning and groaning. Get your NY Teacher's Certification in "JUSTICE... Just Intimidate, Collapse and Eliminate the real leaders of the inner city."

You are on every blog. You claim to be intelligent but have you once said anything about Dave Thomas lying about Daye being in the meeting. NO! "Cause masta hav to protek his own." I am sorry dear; African - Americans don't speak that way anymore. It's called higher education.

Ask yourself K K -Hoodia and you shall find realism:

1) Why was the ECC's women's coach and the Bennett H.S.'s coach testimony not completed?

2) Why didn't Athletic Director Thomas lie to Edmund's?

3) Why did the engineer from McKinley deny he told Daye to call Thomas the night Daye allegedly had a "discussion with Stiles not heated conversation, argument, feud, battle, dispute, fight, tussle or any other SENSATIONALIST VERB you can conjure up?

4) Why did Thomas deny the call when its on Daye's phone records?

Shut your trap about him or McKinley until you learn the facts. See, the truth is WNY can't handle the truth. ECIC and the Catholic Leagues are hoping he does not return so they can bask again. I would hate him too for convincing the 'po' black kids they could be somebody and go to college.

When a white woman volunteers her time it's honorable but when a black man does his job it's a disgrace.

[Realistic]

Lydia or Stiles:

Don't you have anything else to do but trash the students and teachers from the BPS. I am a friend of Daye's and proud to admit it. You sit at home bloggers have nothing to do but criticize the city. When was the last time you donated your time to read to K -3 kids in the city. You evidently squander the day wondering how to degrade the teachers and students of the city. How would you like it if someone vandelized your car or called you racist names? How would you like it if someone took away your bucket of curly fries and chicken? Go exercise or do something positive but until you know what's going on, SHUT THE &^%^% UP! I for one am sick and tired of your moaning and groaning. Get your NY Teacher's Certification in "JUSTICE... Just Intimidate, Collapse and Eliminate the real leaders of the inner city."

You are on every blog. You claim to be intelligent but have you once said anything about Dave Thomas lying about Daye being in the meeting. NO! "Cause masta hav to protek his own." I am sorry dear; African - Americans don't speak that way anymore. It's called higher education.

Ask yourself K K -Hoodia and you shall find realism:

1) Why was the ECC's women's coach and the Bennett H.S.'s coach testimony not completed?

2) Why didn't Athletic Director Thomas lie to Edmund's?

3) Why did the engineer from McKinley deny he told Daye to call Thomas the night Daye allegedly had a "discussion with Stiles not heated conversation, argument, feud, battle, dispute, fight, tussle or any other SENSATIONALIST VERB you can conjure up?

4) Why did Thomas deny the call when it’s on Daye's phone records?

Shut your trap about him or McKinley until you learn the facts. See, the truth is WNY can't handle the truth. ECIC and the Catholic Leagues are hoping he does not return so they can bask again. I would hate him too for convincing the ‘po’ black kids they could be somebody and go to college.

When a white woman volunteers her time it’s honorable but when a black man does his job it’s a disgrace.

[South Buffalo Girl]

"...but when a black man does his job it’s a disgrace."
What part of his job involves going to young girls' houses at night claiming he is visiting an "adult cousin"? Realistic, do you really think this is a race issue? Or do you agree that it is an adult issue? He used poor judgment when visiting the house and even worse judgment in his dealings with Stiles.

[I want to know]

South Buffalo girl, get off your bar stool and smell the whiskey!! Do you just randomly blog or have you actually read anything?? A STUDENT DID NOT LIVE AT THE HOUSE!!!! And tell me this "South Buffalo girl" that if people were putting your name in their mouth that didn't know what they were talking about, that you wouldn't be upset??? Especially at your workplace, when the person that was causing the chaos WASN'T even an EMPLOYEE!!! How do you know how it was handled??? Were you there?? And by the way "rj" do you know how to read either... The Athletic Director admitted to the news that he LIED... Daye was never at the meeting. The question is why lie?? And what other lies are out there??

[South Buffalo Girl]

Wow, Realistic...who is being a bigot here? Just because I live in South Buffalo you assume I'm a drinker. Interesting, considering you are looking for fairness and tolerance toward James Daye. BTW- do you know exactly how this was handled? Where YOU there? Or are you just getting your info. from your friend James?

[South Buffalo Girl]

Sorry, Realistic...I just assumed that was you. My comments were actually meant for "I want to know". The whiskey must be getting to me...

[Realistic]

South Buffalo Girl:
Do you have friends and do you visit them? Are you restricted to whom you can visit? There was no basketball player living there and if there was Daye would have been charged already. The district has the records and addresses of its students. So why has not he been charged?

Everyone has escaped for cover and left this guy for the stoning. I think there are more lies out there because why put someone on paid leave when the district has admitted to the newspaper and his union lawyers that Daye has not done anything improper. Why does Williams knowingly break several labor laws keeping Daye out?

Finally, why did a BPS administrator see Stiles and Carl Paladino having lunch two days after Paladino took Daye out of his ad on WBEN? Stiles surely should have sued Williams and the board already for the leak behind closed doors. She has not and will not. During Edmund's investigations the district received a lot of information that lets say, the volunteer coach does not want to come out. Why won't the district take actions you are probably saying? I will give you two words for that ... EMBARASSMENT and LIABILITY.

So instead of worrying about Daye's cars, clothes and salary ask the real questions before you pass judgment.

[Lloyd Marshall, Jr.]

"(F)or all of you that are judging... (y)ou have no idea what the whole story is. You may or may not feel differently about this man but, you most definitely would think twice before you start talking about someone without fully knowing the whole truth."

But, here's what we DO know...

-He had a sexual encounter with a young lady in SC, who was one of his charges.

-He was seen at the home of a player's relative some months ago, possibly in a compromising situation.

-He lied about his past activity in his résumé.

That's more than enough to call him unfit to continue in his job.