Jessica Caselden (right), working as an athletic trainer at her alma mater. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)
Proposed budget cuts by Coupeville Schools administrators have drawn strong responses.
The following is a letter to the editor from a community member concerned about the possibility Jessica Caselden’s Athletic Trainer position at the high school will be eliminated.
Coupeville School Board and Mr. Steve King,
Removing Jessica Caselden from the athletic trainer position due to poor budgeting tactics is ridiculous.
As it has been said, the athletic department did not cause this budget crisis.
The argument will be made that athletics is not education, but everyone who works with kids in a paid or volunteer capacity knows that’s not true.
Athletics is the lever that keeps many of our most vulnerable students in school, coming back every day.
Athletics is the carrot that keeps many of our struggling students pushing forward academically, when they would just rather stop trying.
The staff is amazing, all of them, the teachers, the coaches, every single person that touches our children’s lives.
In turn our athletes are amazing human beings, because they are influenced and educated by the best.
The real problem here though, that no one wants to discuss, is our education system in the United States is built off unpaid labor, primarily of women.
Jessica Caselden is not just going to ignore the needs of our students when the funding is cut for the athletic trainer position.
At a track meet a few weeks back, you know who they paged for help when they thought there was an injury?
“Jessica Caselden, if you’re at the track, please come to long jump.”
We watched her run to the aid of an injured basketball player on the opposing team during the district playoffs, with her calm and reassuring presence.
Those are just two examples of many; she is there for our students, and they love her.
Mr. King, Coupeville School Board, I thought you were better than that.
No one wants to see our school district’s athletics program built off the unpaid labor of women, or the unpaid labor of anyone for that matter.
Stop this nonsense!
If we need to make budget cuts, maybe Mr. King and the school board need to take a look at their strategic plan.
You know what isn’t education?
The Connected Food Program and a public school employing a chef at a salary of nearly 100k per year.
Healthy food does not require a chef, nor does it need to be expensive.
Jessica Caselden needs to be retained as athletic trainer.
Go Wolves!
Sincerely,
A Community Member
Coupeville Sports 
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