Coaches caught-up in Probe

Mike Wilson, candidate in the open 44th Legislative seat and longtime teacher at Cascade High School, denied being involved in recruiting students to canvas for him last Wednesday.

In a statement to the Everett Herald Wilson said a coach offered to organize students to volunteer. Who did what for who and when is leaving the coaches from three high schools holding the bag.

We have yet to hear back from Everett A.D. Robert Polk’s office but note that identical letters sent to cross-country students at both Cascade and Jackson High Schools. In a letter from Cathy Woods Principal at Cascade, she wrote:

“Dear Parents and Guardians of Cross Country Athletes, on Wednesday, October 15, our Cross Country coaches asked your student to take part in assisting a political campaign. This should never have happened. I have taken action to ensure that it does not happen again. School staff may engage in political activities on their own time, using their own private resources, and not during school hours. Students are also free to volunteer in political campaigns, but they should not be asked to do so by district employees during the school day or at school activities. In our work with students, we emphasize the importance of "doing the right thing. Students who felt uncomfortable about Wednesday's request did the right thing by sharing their discomfort, and I am grateful to them for having shared their uneasiness. ” Cathy Woods Principal, Cascade High School

The letter was in response to an email and actions by the cross-country coaches to recruit their athletes to canvas for the Mike Wilson campaign. The email to student runners in part said:

“Wednesday (Oct 15th) - You will either do a 30 minute run at Cascade, or... You will meet at McCollum Park @ 3:00 p.m. to help run flyers for the Mike Wilson campaign. Cascade, Jackson & Glacier Peak cross-country teams will be helping with Mike Wilson's campaign. The Everett Herald will be doing a story on it. You may get your picture in the paper! Make sure you have transportation worked out. We will be dropping flyers on doorsteps from 3:45 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the Pioneer Trails, Silver Lake & Hilton Lake areas…..” email from school staff.

The Everett School District has launched an investigation into any wrongdoing by Mike Wilson for allegedly using school resources to further his campaign.

The Snohomish School District spokesperson Kristin Foley released this statement:
“We have recently been made aware that last week a district Cross Country coach offered student athletes an opportunity to take part in assisting with a political campaign. This request should not have occurred, and we have discussed with the coach to make sure it does not happen again. We acknowledge that students may choose to volunteer in political campaigns. However, they should not be asked to do so by district employees during the school day or at school activities.”

Today, Principal Jim Dean from Glacier Peak High School, sent a letter to families that reiterated the statement from the school district. No official word on whether the Snohomish School District will take any further actions to investigate the matter any further.