GONZALES — Numerous people submitted public comments in support of Gonzales High School’s Sports Medicine class during a special board meeting for Gonzales Unified School District on July 28.
There were so many submissions that the board had to implement the 20-minute limit for comments on a shared subject, as comment-after-comment was read from those submitted via email. The topic was not related to the agenda’s sole item, the approval of a return-to-school plan for the district, so board members and administration didn’t comment on the matter.
Teacher Fidencio Cuevas, however, said he and students have been told since May by high school and district administrators that a lack of after-school practicum at campus sports practices and competitions would mean the class wouldn’t have its essential lab component.
“We could adapt and do foundational things the whole first semester,” said Cuevas, who added the time before the return of sports in December or January would be used by the class for planning and to get materials ready.
Cuevas mentioned the value of the class, as there is a large student interest on the campus, with 90 having signed up for the one available section and only 27 having been able to get in last year.
“My class has been full all three years that I’ve had it there,” said Cuevas, who brought the program to GHS after having taught sports medicine in the Central Valley for 10 years.
A two-period class was offered with follow-up science lab practicum completed after school beside the high school’s sports. There, they can act as medics under teacher supervision to put their classroom learning to use.
Cuevas said his students have been interested in getting into physical therapy, nursing and kinesiology. He noted having a biological science lab as part of a course load is beneficial for students applying to colleges.
“The class is an introduction that gets them experience in the health care field,” Cuevas said. “We can work on things and can adapt to things. We could even start to focus on more of the anatomy and physiology, therapy and rehabilitation.”
Madi Schweitzer said in a public comment, “Students are going to miss out on an extreme opportunity that can broaden their horizons and expose them to career paths they may not know about.”
Monterey County has six sports medicine programs, with GHS being the only one cut in the upcoming school year, according to Cuevas.
“All the schools get interested in it because they see the benefit,” Cuevas said, adding that two other South Monterey County schools are looking into the program after seeing the one at GHS.
The alternative is hiring personnel with EMT experience at an estimated cost of $400 per game, which can add up to $800 per night considering both junior and varsity games.
With the sports medicine program cut, Cuevas has been shifted to teaching a full roster of biology classes, instead, so the cut has not been a matter of funding for his faculty position, he explained.
In addition to helping the students who participate, Cuevas said the class has had effects throughout the community. He noted last fall when the students helped train 112 district staff members in learning CPR, where AEDs are placed on campus and how to recognize and react to a cardiac emergency.
Cuevas highlighted one student who saved a teacher with the Heimlich maneuver a couple years ago. The teacher had been eating lunch when she choked on a piece of food and the student rushed to assist when he spotted her.
“I learned how to communicate with first responders,” said Brianna Villalobos in her public comment to the board, also noting she learned CPR in the class. “Without this class, I don’t think I would have the courage to call 911 to help someone in need of help. I assisted Mr. Cuevas with someone in a wrestling tournament who was injured. I stopped bloody noses properly.”
A looming risk in the condensed sports seasons comes from 25 teams at GHS playing within the span of five months. Cuevas has continued to point out that fact, and the need for capable medical staff ready to handle the stresses of such a crammed schedule, as well as the non-stop practices at packed fields and courts.
These concerns have led Cuevas to repeatedly call for a student safety task force led by the district and the city to ensure a safe return to sports. Though he advocated for putting minds together and pooling expertise, he said his concerns have met no response.
“I feel this is something I’m being targeted for,” Cuevas said when asked why such a decision has hit his class. “Because I’m really involved with our union. I’ve been a big advocate for the rights of educators. It’s the only program that hasn’t come back.”
Art Berlanga, GHS football coach, also submitted a public comment.
“Our Sports Med. program is more essential than ever before due to such trying times,” Berlanga said. “Sports Med. also provides students with an elective class opportunity for CSU/UC requirements, which is also a need for our college-motivated kids.”
In another public comment, Aliza Ayala agreed about the program’s importance.
“Given the state of the world, now more than ever we need to offer an athletic trainer that teaches a Sports Medicine course,” Ayala said. “We need to be adding layers of protection for students, not removing them.”
