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Board approves athletic-training contract after discussion over rising costs
Summary
Cullman County Schools approved a contract to continue athletic trainer services with Encore; the district expects to pay about $20,000 per trainer on campus and discussed concerns about rising vendor costs and contract duration.
The Cullman County Schools Board of Education voted Sept. 11 to approve a request-for-proposal award for athletic-training services following board discussion about rising vendor costs and limited competition for bids.
Dr. Barnett recommended approval of the contract; the agenda summary and subsequent remarks said the district has used Encore (Encore Rehabilitation) for several years. District staff told the board that Encore informed the district it would charge roughly $20,000 per athletic trainer assigned to a campus for the upcoming period.
During discussion, a staff member explained the district had two other companies express interest but that they did not submit bids. The staff member said the recommended contract term was two years and that the district must weigh the importance of athletic trainers against rising costs: "athletic trainers are extremely important to our for our sports," the staff member said, "But at the same time, we can't allow that cost just to continue to rise."
The presenter also noted Encore holds separate contracts to provide physical and occupational therapy services for special-needs students, and that the district paid more than a quarter of a million dollars last year for those therapy contracts. "We paid them over a quarter of a million dollars on those contracts," the presenter said.
A motion to approve the athletic-training RFP passed on a voice vote after the discussion; board members did not read a roll-call tally into the record.
The contract is expected to take effect immediately after signing and cover the current school year; the presenter said the original contract suggested an August 1 start and would run through July 31 of the following year. Board members said they would monitor costs and consider alternatives if prices continue to rise.
