School District Investigating Claims of Harassment, Bullying by Several Girls' Coaches

The Saratoga Springs (N.Y.) School District is moving forward with hiring a law firm to investigate alleged abusive behavior by several coaches. 

According to WRGB, the district was made aware of the claims in a letter sent by an interest group called "Safe Athletics for Everyone." 

The letter states that the allegations are anonymous and were made over years against three girls' sports coaches. The district said the letter does not state when some of the incidents occurred. 

The allegations are laid out in a 77-page document that claims bullying and harassment took place for years on the girls' track and cross country teams, as well as on the girls' soccer and lacrosse teams. 

All coaches remain employed by the school, however one no longer coaches, but is still a teacher. Those behind the complain want some administrators and the coaches fired. 

At a school board meeting Tuesday night, all of the 12 public comments heard refuted the claims made in the complaint, and expressed positive feelings towards the coaches accused, and the athletic program in general. 

"Everything this program does is from a place of care. We are treated like family and they would move mountains for us," said student athlete Emily Bush.

Another woman told the board "To say my experience as a parent of two children on the team is a positive one is an understatement."

The New York State Education Department is investigating the matter, and the New York Attorney General's Office is still involved. The district plans to hire the Buffalo-based law firm Harris Beach to look at the complaints and do an audit of the current culture and athletic program Harris Beach charges $299 an hour for the attorney, the associate is $279 and hour and the paralegal rate is $135 an hour.