Jessica Caselden (left) returns as Coupeville High School Athletic Trainer, after the community raised $8,600 to fund her position. (Mandi Black photos)
It’s official-official.
After the community rallied to fund the position — raising $8,600 with a GoFundMe and car wash — Jessica Caselden returns as Coupeville High School Athletic Trainer.
Her rehiring, and approval of the district accepting the grant via a donation from the school’s booster club, were part of the consent agenda at Thursday’s school board meeting.
The vote was 5-0.
With Caselden set to work the sideline at Friday’s home football opener, a turbulent roller coaster ride reaches its final destination.
For a year, at least.
The athletic trainer position was slashed in the 2023-2024 budget crafted by Superintendent Steve King and Business Director Brian Gianello.
That budget, approved by the school board in a 4-1 vote after much back-and-forth, also cut the Dean of Students position held by 19-year vet Tom Black and reduced paraeducator positions and hours.
The public backlash was quick, loud, and consistent.
In Caselden’s case, a huge chunk of the blowback against the decision came from CHS athletes themselves, with Wolf softball players leading a pro-Jessica letter-writing campaign.
District officials later agreed to allow the public to fund the athletic trainer position, though not a specific employee.
Caselden’s direct supervisor, CHS Athletic Director Willie Smith — whose own duties were briefly on the chopping block before a reversal from King — was always clear he would retain the Wolf grad if that option was available.
Coupeville’s athletic future helps ensure its present success.
The GoFundMe brought in donations from 81 people, while the car wash, which was staffed by a large collection of young Wolf athletes, earned $1,300+ on its own.
Caselden, who also got married this summer, is a PE teacher and athletic trainer at the same high school where she once played softball and basketball.
A daughter of the prairie, back where she belongs.
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