To whom it may concern,

I am writing this letter as a proud graduate of Gaffney High School who is deeply troubled over current events involving the treatment of athletic trainer, Mary McDaniel. I spent three of my four years at Gaffney High School as a student trainer under the direct guidance of Mrs. McDaniel. Through that experience, I learned more about responsibility and selflessness than any other experience has ever provided, all because of the influence of Mrs. McDaniel.

I would like the public to know how much dedication and effort Mary has devoted to the athletic program of Gaffney High School; she was solely responsible for the care of injured athletes and the well being of all the rest. She held this role without complaint, even though it often meant long hours away from her husband and children, whom she missed a great deal of time with throughout the years because of her dedication to the athletes of Gaffney High. The fact that the majority of the members of the school board were not willing to stand up for this person who has devoted so much of herself to the students of Gaffney High is incredibly disconcerting and should truly upset the citizens of Cherokee County.

Cherokee County School District officials have given the public the impression that Mrs. McDaniel did something wrong in that she is not certified. What they have not conveyed to the public is that South Carolina legislation Section 44-75-110 states, "Nothing in this chapter may be construed to require school districts to hire certified athletic trainers." Should this not imply that, since certification is not required, a school district should not be able to dismiss or penalize an athletic trainer such as Mrs. McDaniel because she is not certified? The South Carolina High School League also personally informed me that they have no regulations requiring a school district to have an athletic trainer and in the event that they do have one, these athletic trainers are not required to be certified.

Mrs. McDaniel has devoted years of her life to helping the athletes of Gaffney High School participate in athletics with the comfort of knowing someone is there watching over them if they are injured; the fact that the school board and district office has taken that comfort away from athletes and parents truly speaks to the priorities of our district.
Sincerely,
Ashley Bowman
Gaffney, S.C.