Parents want answers, turn up short

WARSAW, N.Y. (WIVB) - Parents in Wyoming County want answers. They are asking why it took the school board so long to tell them about the school superintendent’s DWI arrest.

Warsaw's School District Superintendent Valerie Burke is still out of the office. The Warsaw Country Courier states the district's school board meeting on Tuesday was abruptly ended for a closed executive session. Burke was escorted into it and hasn't been seen on school property since.

Thursday night, Warsaw residents went to the school board meeting trying to get answers, but turned up short.

“I was under the assumption that they were going to address Valerie Burke's DWI and the meeting seems to be over and nothing was addressed,” said Donna Veihdeffer, a Warsaw resident.

State Police tell News 4 that Burke was arrested for a DWI in May 201, her blood alcohol level was at .15 percent, nearly twice the legal limit.

The School Board President says Burke's absence doesn't mean she's been fired. She's still the superintendent, she's just taking some planned time off.

Parents also came to the school board meeting to get answers about the Warsaw wrestling coach. Coach Rob Hirsch was suspended over an alleged bullying incident, but he was later reinstated.

Warsaw taxpayers wanted the issues about the coach and the superintendent to be addressed, but they got nothing.

Parent Benita Martin said, “Everyone’s human and everyone makes mistakes but when you’re someone who is affiliated with the school and our kids are dealing with problems, they have to have someone they can look up to.”

The Wyoming County Sherrif's Office says they investigated reports of underage drinking at a wrestling conference in August. However, they found no criminal wrongdoing and turned the case over to the district.

News 4 spoke with district officials Friday morning, they say they have no further comment on either issue.