Board approves amended athletic-training agreement after contractor cites staffing shortages

The District 128 Board of Education on Aug. 25 approved an amendment to the district’s athletic-training contract after the vendor said it could not staff two full-time-equivalent athletic trainers.

Why it matters: Athletic trainers provide on-site care for student-athletes. Board members and parents said reduced trainer hours could reduce access to treatments and increase barriers for families who cannot afford outside providers.

Dan Stanley, the district's assistant superintendent for business (present in the meeting), told the board that Athletico “contacted us and said they're having difficulty finding athletic trainers. It's a tough market right now, and so they felt they couldn't fulfill the full 40 hours and guarantee the second full 40 hours. But, they feel very comfortable about filling 30, and they very likely will fill the 40 as much as they can.”

A parent, Michael Shanks, spoke during public comment. Identifying himself as a parent of athletes, Shanks urged the district to consider hiring an in-house trainer: “When you have an in house staff trainer, they take more ownership of the program... a lot of these kids and parents and families can't afford that [outside clinic]” and “It'd be great to maybe possibly start looking at move into an in house on staff trainer.”

Board members approved the amendment by roll call; the formal vote recorded each member voting yes and the motion passed. Board members also discussed, without taking formal action, the possibility of developing an in-house trainer as a contingency plan if contracted coverage proves insufficient.

What happens next: District staff said they will monitor Athletico's service over the coming months and report to the board. The amendment covers the current contract year, and the board did not adopt an immediate plan to hire district-employed athletic trainers during the Aug. 25 session.

All quoted speakers and the vote results are documented in the Aug. 25 meeting transcript.