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Parent warns of uncovered practices at Bloomington High; board pledges follow‑up; Relay for Life invites board
Summary
A parent raised safety and equity concerns after Bloomington High School’s athletic trainer went on maternity leave and practices were not slated to be covered. District staff said a plan exists and will follow up. The Relay for Life organizer invited the board to the Sept. 27 event at Colton High School.
During public comment at the Sept. 18 Colton Joint Unified board meeting, Michael Morales, a registered nurse and parent of a Bloomington High student athlete, urged the district to provide athletic trainer coverage at practices while the school’s regular trainer is on maternity leave.
Morales said he had been told coverage would be provided only during games and cited research and local litigation to argue that leaving practices uncovered increases risk to students and liability for the district. "Most injuries occur at practice, and the presence of an athletic trainer significantly reduces the risk of catastrophic outcomes," he said, recommending the board hire a temporary trainer or create a substitute position to cover Bloomington.
Board President Dan Flores referred Morales to Assistant Superintendent Dr. Anthony Ortiz and said administration had a plan in place and would address the concern. Several trustees later raised the issue in board member comments and asked for a timeline and explanation of why parents learned of the gap rather than district staff proactively notifying the board.
Also during public comment, Matthew Hernandez, chairman of the Relay for Life Colton‑Grand Terrace Cancer Walk, invited the board to the event on Saturday, Sept. 27, at Colton High School Stadium and said the relay has raised $1.24 million over 20 years to support cancer research and patient services. He reported 45 teams signed up this year with expected attendance of 2,000–2,500.
What's next: Dr. Ortiz and district staff acknowledged the concern and told the board they have a plan and would follow up with results; board members requested administration report back on coverage arrangements and any timeline for a temporary hire or contract coverage.
