The Montezuma-Cortez RE-1 school district on Tuesday heard from residents who advocated for the eliminated position of school athletic trainer, expressing concern over student injuries and coach workloads.
The board room was full of people waiting to address the board, and many others stood at the back when seats were filled.
Some who planned to speak with the Board of Education opted to give up their time to ensure that others with major concerns could speak before the hour limit for comments expired.
Nicci Crowley voiced her concern about the recently vacant high school training position, which had been held by Mitch Taffe until this summer.
“I really want the board to think about the safety of our athletes and kids involved in activities,” Crowley said.
Crowley told the board that the absence of a trainer at games has compromised the safety of students, and that coaches can’t fill the role on their own.
“Especially the ones in high-risk sports, the amount of time working for the students at the high school is high,” Crowley said. “While CHSAA doesn’t require an athletic trainer, why would our district choose to do the minimum when we have amazing people in our county ready to work for our kids?”
Crowley also raised the risk of concussions. Because game days are highly intense and busy, an athletic trainer is vital to ensuring the safety of athletes who might have obtained a concussion while playing.
“We are able to articulate strong treatment plans for these students, which not only helps them get back on the field, but back in the classroom to the best of their ability and in top mental state,” Crowley said. “More than 70% of our kids are involved in athletics or activities. This should be a priority.”
Jarrett Watkins, a physical education teacher and coach at Montezuma-Cortez High School, told the board of a recent, on-field injury that could have ended in disaster. He emphasized the importance of an athletic trainer in the school.
At Friday night’s varsity football game against North Fork High School, one of Watkins’ players made a tackle and was thrown into another player, causing their thighs to slam together.
“I ran onto the field, and my player was screaming in pain,” Watkins said. “I could tell there was a deformation at the upper knee in his leg.”
Neither MCHS nor North Fork had an athletic trainer, and the ambulance that had been present during the game had left because of an emergency call.
“I was the only person on that field that had any kind of medical training, as I am a former physical therapist’s assistant,” Watkins said. “I made the decision to load my kid into a side-by-side, and he was screaming in agony the entire time.”
At the hospital, the player was found to have a compound fracture in his lower femur. The break was close to his femoral artery.
“The fracture could have severed the artery, and my kid would have died from blood loss before he made it to the hospital,” Watkins said tearfully. “I was in no place to try and make this decision … I could have killed one of my own kids.”
“I’m begging each of you for help to try and figure out how we can retain this position. It helps our kids, and it helps our coaches,” Watkins said.
Watkins also rebutted those who claimed Taffe worked as an athletic trainer just 20 hours a week.
Taffe, who has been an athletic trainer for eight years, introduced himself to the board, saying that he worked at the high school and middle school for five years before his position was eliminated this summer.
“Athletic trainers are the front line workers,” Taffe said. “We are trained in emergency care for cardiac emergencies, spinal cord injuries, severe fractures and weather-related emergencies such as heat stroke. An athletic trainer on staff mitigates these risks during emergency situations so that the athlete has the best possible chance for a positive outcome. Not having one poses a huge risk when the unthinkable happens.”
Taffe told the board that concussion protocols in the state were put in place after a student-athlete died after insufficient care after a concussion.
Taffe said that in the past year, he has had 950 encounters with student-athletes in the district.
“Most days, I would be seeing 10 to 12 athletes, and some of their programs lasted 90 minutes or more,” Taffe said.
When he spoke with The Journal in June, Taffe said his position was cut in May.
Watkins told The Journal that he had gone to the school board and district leadership to advocate for the trainer position. He said it had been acknowledged as being important for the district, but then was dropped at the end of the school year.
“He’s such a good guy and a great athletic trainer,” Watkins said of Taffe. “He’s worked for the (New Orleans) Saints. He’s worked for the Buffalo Bills, and he’s one of the best athletic trainers in the state, and we’re about to lose him.”
Taffe and Watkins are running a strength and conditioning program for student-athletes until Aug. 1.
