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Community urges board to retain high‑school athletic trainer amid safety and liability concerns
Summary
Multiple coaches, the school’s athletic trainer and parents told the Montezuma‑Cortez School District Re‑1 board that eliminating the high‑school athletic trainer position would endanger students, citing on‑field emergencies and hundreds of yearly clinical encounters; the board said staffing choices are tied to a roughly $1.8 million budget shortfall.
More than a half dozen community speakers at the July 16 Montezuma‑Cortez School District Re‑1 board meeting urged trustees to retain the district’s high‑school athletic trainer, saying the role prevents injuries from becoming life‑threatening and supports student return to class and play.
Jared Watkins, a high‑school coach, told the board he once faced a near‑fatal situation at an away game when a player sustained a severe lower‑femur fracture. "I could have killed one of my own kids," Watkins said, describing how emergency medical technicians were not available and how an on‑site athletic trainer would have provided critical care while awaiting transport. Watkins said the event underlined potential liability for the district if the position is removed.
Mitch, who identified himself as the district’s athletic trainer, described the daily clinical workload and emergency responsibilities the job involves. "This past year I had approximately 950 encounters with our athletes," he said, adding that athletic trainers provide concussion baseline testing, therapeutic care and emergency response for cardiac, spinal and severe fracture scenarios.
Nikki Crowley, speaking on behalf of athletic‑training support, emphasized that coaches can receive online concussion training but cannot serve simultaneously as primary caregivers in high‑risk game situations. "Having an athletic trainer available to assess students...is highly important," she said, noting that more than 70% of high‑school students participate in activities.
Board members acknowledged the public pleas but said the organizational chart and individual position placement must be balanced against the district’s fiscal realities. Assistant Superintendent Mr. Ramirez told the board the district faces an approximate $1.8 million annual deficit tied to proposed pay increases and other staffing commitments, and that administrators and the board are reviewing positions as one way to reduce expenses.
The board voted to approve the revised organizational chart after a discussion that separated the chart’s wording and title placements from decisions about hiring, retention or contract actions affecting incumbents. Trustees said the chart vote does not alone eliminate an employee but reflected how the position is listed administratively.
The matter remains procedural rather than final: trustees and administration said they would revisit the position and the budgetary tradeoffs before final personnel decisions. Parents and staff said they will continue to press the board for a solution that preserves on‑site medical coverage for student athletes.
The board took no separate personnel vote at the meeting related to the athletic trainer role and concluded the agenda item after approving the organizational chart.
