Report: Saratoga School District Investigated “Most, But Not All” Abuse Allegations

SARATOGA SPRINGS — An independent investigation stemming from claims of “a toxic culture of alleged abusive coaching” determined that the Saratoga Springs City School District investigated “most, but not all” complaints made about the school’s cross-country and track and field program.

“With several of those complaints or allegations, evidence reviewed by the investigation team suggests that the District’s review did not go far enough and/or the manner in which the District addressed the complaints or allegations lacked follow up or oversight of directives given,” stated the report from the Harris Beach law firm.

In response, Superintendent Dr. Michael Patton said the district would conduct a second review of its athletic programs with assistance from the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference, review its coaches’ policies and practices, and possibly revise its Coaches Handbook. Dr. Patton also said he would recommend policy changes regarding corrective actions taken against coaches. At a Board of Education meeting on March 14, Board President Tony Krackeler said that “discussions of our athletic program are far from over.”  

“The failure to sufficiently and comprehensively investigate and respond to some of the complaints made over the 35-year period reviewed was contrary to the District’s best intentions,” Dr. Patton said in a statement. “We are determined to use the results of this investigation and the report’s findings to make our strong athletic program even better.” 

The report seemed to question the district’s decision to re-hire cross-country and track coaches Art and Linda Kranick, stating that “while the District received complaints regarding student athletes across multiple years concerning alleged improper conduct of the Kranicks, the District continued their annual appointment as coaches, even after they had no rights under the CBA to those appointments due to their retirements from teaching.”

But the report also noted that “there were others who took the contrary view and praised the District’s coaches…especially that of the Kranicks for their successes and positive contributions.”

During public comments at the March 14 board meeting, standout varsity runner Emily Bush spoke in defense of her coaches. “As much as I love this sport, I can tell you all confidently that I would not be doing it if I felt like I was in an abusive environment,” Bush said. “The skills I’ve gained are invaluable and I can’t stress that enough.”

Five parents of current or former Saratoga runners also expressed support for the Kranicks’ program. One of them criticized local news networks for only highlighting negative aspects of the program. Another, Carl Strock, said he sympathized “with those who thought the program was extreme. I thought it was too. You don’t get to be national champions by taking it easy, by having a lot of days off. You get to be national champions by pushing yourself and by others pushing you.”

The report by Harris Beach was the result of claims of “abusive coaching” in a legal complaint filed in October of last year. 1989 graduate Kristen (Gecewicz) Gunning said that the running program was “a toxic culture of control and abuse of middle and high school girls all in the name of winning.” 1999 graduate Lauren Hogan said that some aspects of the Kranicks’ program “caused immense damage to me both mentally and physically.” An updated version of the legal complaint from October 30 included more than a dozen witnesses who made various claims against the cross-country and track program. The claims spanned from the 1980s to 2022.