Saratoga School District Criticized for Rehiring Kranicks

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Springs City School District was criticized for rehiring cross-country and track coaches Art and Linda Kranick in a letter written on behalf of S.A.F.E. (Safe Athletics For Everyone), a group of athletes and parents concerned about their experiences with Saratoga Springs athletics programs.

“We are very disappointed in the actions of the Saratoga Springs School District’s decision to continue the employment of the Kranicks and hope that at some point the inevitable turnover of administrators will end the cycle that has supported and encouraged their behavior for 30 years,” the letter said. “Letters of support do not negate the alleged damage that has been done to other athletes, some of whom continue to suffer medical issues to this day related to their training.”

The letter, dated August 7, was written by attorney Martin J. Greenberg and addressed to Superintendent Dr. Michael Patton. Governor Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Leticia James were cc’d.

“A school district holds the trust of the community,” the letter continued. “As such, we believe there is an implied agreement with that community to ensure the wellbeing and safety of the children which attend their schools. We believe that the Saratoga Springs School District has breached that implied agreement through its failure to provide proper oversight of its coaches in this instance. As the school district has insisted on renewing the Kranicks term as coaches once again, we hope that the school district does better with respect to oversight and holds the coaches’ feet to the fire with respect to proper coaching methods and behavior.”

Superintendent Patton told Saratoga TODAY that he does not have any concerns about the Kranicks moving forward. “I’ve been here for seven years and have gotten to know the Kranicks very well,” Patton said. He added that, in the past year, the Kranicks have met all of the athletic department’s expectations. 

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

The report from the Harris Beach law firm also seemed to question the district’s decision to rehire the Kranicks, 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.”

When the report was released in March, Superintendent 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.

As both the Harris Beach report and Greenberg’s August 7 letter noted, many student-athletes and parents have spoken out in defense of the Kranicks, arguing that the coaches’ program is demanding and successful, not abusive. Dr. Patton also said that he’s received a number of messages in support of rehiring the Kranicks.