Parents and community demand review after Bennett coach barred; board asks staff to re‑examine case

Dozens of parents, students and community members told the Buffalo City School District Board of Education on Oct. 9 that Coach Lee Benke has been blocked from coaching at Bennett High without explanation, and urged the board to revisit the decision.

Several speakers described Benke as a formative influence who had helped students reach Division I programs and praised his work with inner‑city youth. ‘‘He helps people,’’ parent Jack Eskridge said. ‘‘Coach Lee's a great coach, and he should be able to coach wherever he wants to coach.’’ Benke addressed the board himself and said repeatedly that he had not been given formal documentation of the decision against him and had requested it through counsel. ‘‘If the correct thing is not done and I cannot coach this year, I will wipe my hands with this entire thing, and I will not coach at BPS again,’’ he said.

Superintendent Dr. Williams Knight told the board in response that the district ‘‘would not blackball’’ any coach and that personnel specifics could not be discussed at length in public forum. She said she would have staff and legal follow up with affected families and invited private meetings for parents who raised concerns.

After public comment, Board President asked whether staff and legal could re‑examine the matter. Several board members urged that the district take ‘‘another look’’ and proposed sending a formal request that the superintendent and staff revisit the decision and report back to the board. The board agreed to move the conversations into executive session later in the meeting to receive legal advice and consider employment history.

The public record at the meeting shows broad community support for Benke and frustration at a lack of clear public explanation from the district. The board did not vote to reinstate the coach during the public meeting; instead members directed staff to re‑examine the case and to return with findings or options, and they moved to consider personnel deliberations in executive session.

Next steps: the superintendent and staff will review the matter with legal counsel and report back to the board; the board scheduled an executive session after the public meeting for further discussion.