Jessica Caselden (left) and Mandi Black, proud, hard-working Wolf alumni. (Photo courtesy Black)
The community is united.
While understanding budget cuts may be necessary as Coupeville schools deal with financial issues, a proposal to cut the athletic trainer position at the high school/middle school has been met with resounding opposition.
The latest to offer their thoughts on the matter is cheer team advisor/school nurse Jenne Morrell, who, like CHS Athletic Trainer Jessica Caselden, is a Wolf alumnus.
Last year Coupeville School District made a change, a big change.
We added a licensed athletic trainer to our high school athletic program!
For the first time, our students had access to real-time diagnosis, treatment, and injury prevention.
This may not seem like a big deal, but, for our athletes, this has been a game changer.
Let me explain why.
Many of our athletes are not able to access healthcare in a timely manner.
This can be the result of many factors.
They may not have a healthcare provider that they see regularly, and if they do, it is very difficult to schedule appointments for athletes due to injury timing.
We love our Island, but these injuries and games all occur after hours and clinics are not open.
If an athlete is lucky enough to be able to access an urgent care clinic the wait times are hours and hours.
Many families are not able to miss work to sit in a clinic for hours waiting to be seen.
This means that in the past our athletes have often not sought care for injuries that begin as minor but progress to serious injuries when left untreated.
How many of you are aware of the number of high school athletes that have surgery for an injury that if properly treated could have been managed without surgical intervention?
These injuries will affect our athletes for the rest of their lives.
If we do not have the option to send injured students to see an athletic trainer our athletes will pay the price with their future mobility.
By providing access to an athletic trainer, we are prioritizing the health, safety, and well-being of our athletes.
If they learn now how to care for their bodies properly, they will be prepared to live long, healthy, active lives.
Athletic trainers bridge the gap between students and healthcare in partnership with the school nurses we have on campus.
Together this creates a link, serving as a patient advocate for our athletes, many of whom will not regularly see any other healthcare provider.
Being able to have someone who can diagnose concussions and injuries leads to early intervention and enhances recovery.
I personally have learned so much from Jessie; she truly has a special gift with these athletes and there is no other individual on our campus that can provide the care and treatment she does.
She is dedicated and has never said no to any request, even when these requests cut into her personal time.
She treated my cheerleaders without a second thought even though they are not part of the athletic program.
Every time she is consulted, she provides care with a smile and truly cares about these students.
I would love to have the data for the number of taped ankles and student visits she has completed on and off the field.
If you were to divide that number by 10k you would see what a bargain our athletic trainer position truly is.
Not to mention the fact that she taught managers and students to also tape athletes.
Students who had never thought about pursuing a career in healthcare are now seeking out healthcare as an occupation.
Her sports med classes have provided experiences that have never been offered in our district.
As a district that strives to prepare every student for their future, we really need to look at providing our students with the tools they need to keep their bodies strong and healthy.
Removing this position is a step in the wrong direction and will have a profoundly negative impact on our students.
Let’s get creative and see how we can allow this position to remain in our high school.
Sincerely,
Jenne Morrell BSN, CSN
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