As of Thursday, 430 people had signed a petition aimed at the Everett School District to reinstate Steve Bertrand as the cross country coach at Cascade High School. The petition is in addition to letters, guest commentaries and other forms of support for Bertrand. The petition succinctly states, “Steve Bertrand has been coaching at Cascade High School for 37+ years and has been told his cross country coaching contract will not be renewed next year.
“Steve is a great coach and is well respected by current students, parents, alumni and other coaches in the area and many feel very strongly that the cross country program at Cascade will suffer as a result of this decision.
No reasons have been given by the school or the Everett School District for this action.”
The Everett School Board allowed public comment on the matter, but never addressed people’s concerns or offered any explanation for the move, which has bewildered so many. As Herald reporter Rich Myhre wrote, “It is no overstatement to say Bertrand’s dismissal has stirred shock, disbelief and even outrage among a large group of supporters, including fellow teachers and coaches, current and former athletes, and the parents of those athletes.”
The growing support to have Bertrand reinstated as coach is reminiscent of the effort a few years back, when Cascade High School students past and present, parents, teachers, coaches, competitors and members of the community joined Bertrand in their ultimately successful quest to get a synthetic track surface at the school. Cascade and Jackson high schools were the only high schools in the state still using a cinder track, and the runners who used them had the injuries to prove their danger, many testified at the time.
When Cascade celebrated the opening of the track with an inaugural “Bruin Mile,” Bertrand was quoted as saying: “The superintendent, the school board came through and really took a look at a problem we have in this community and followed up and did a good thing. That’s what we’re about: What’s the best for kids. This is a good example of that.”
According to hundreds of current and former students, fellow teachers and coaches, Steve Bertrand, in his role as track and cross country coach, is what is best for the kids. The lack of an explanation by the district for his sudden removal as coach, is a disservice to all involved. The lack of transparency creates distrust. Taking public comment only to ignore it doesn’t help. But the superintendent and school board can always reconsider, and “follow up and do a good thing.”
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