Coaches and district need to put kids first

At the beginning of this week, students in Marysville turned out for the fall sports season despite the threat that their coaches might strike. No one is sure when, or if, a strike might take place. But one thing’s for sure: While their coaches and the school board negotiate from opposite sides of an abyss, it is Marysville students who hang in limbo.

It has been a rough year for coaches in the Marysville School District. Many were outraged by an expensive probe that was meant to follow up on complaints from a few parents about their coaching techniques. Low morale among teachers led their union to issue a "report card" that gave the school district failing grades, and a request by the union to discuss the report card with the school board was denied. Earlier this month, the newly formed coaches’ union agreed to strike if its demands for continuing contracts and longevity pay were not met by the school district.

Marysville coaches deserve respect and recognition from the Marysville community, and the school district should make every effort to address their concerns. Refusing to acknowledge the low morale of Marysville coaches would be a mistake.

A strike by coaches, however, would do nothing to heal wounds, and it could cost students an activity that serves as an important alternative to less savory choices. In the school districts of Everett, Stanwood and Snohomish, home to many successful athletic programs, coaches do not receive continuing contracts. If the Marysville School District’s maintenance and operations levy were to fail in the future, continuing contracts for coaches could force other programs and extracurricular activities to be cut completely.

No one can deny that the coaches in Marysville have been there for their students. Hundreds of former and current athletes in Marysville can attest to the way that their coaches helped them through triumphs and failures, on and off the field. With the prevalence of violence and drug use in so many communities, this is no time to abandon students.

It is vital that the Marysville School District express appreciation for its coaches, and make overtures to repair its strained relationship with them by opening up discussion about the problems the district faces. At the same time, we hope that coaches — all of them caring, dedicated individuals — will realize how much their athletes need them, and decide not to strike.

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