Board debates job description to expand athletic medical coverage; aims to hire part‑time district employees

District staff presented a draft job description to the Contoocook Valley School District board proposing the title "high school athletic medical personnel" so the district could employ a range of licensed medical professionals for game and practice coverage when a certified athletic trainer is not available.

Dr. Forrester, a district staff member who introduced the item, said the district has been unable to replace its prior contracted athletic trainer and has been using a patchwork of coverage. "We have brought this job description forward, not as an athletic trainer, but as a high school athletic medical personnel," Dr. Forrester said, adding that hiring those providers as district employees would allow them to be covered under district insurance and avoid requiring each part‑timer to obtain separate liability policies.

The draft lists NHIAA‑recognized provider types who could fill the role: certified athletic trainer, board‑certified sports physical therapist, emergency medical technician (EMT), nurse, nurse practitioner, physician or physician assistant. Board members questioned parts of that list. One board member suggested removing the phrase "board‑certified sports" so that any physical therapist could be considered; district staff responded that the list was taken from NHIAA guidance and they would verify whether a non‑board‑certified physical therapist would meet NHIAA standards.

Board members discussed how the position differs from EMT coverage: an EMT is required at football games under NHIAA guidance because of higher injury risk, while the proposed position would provide triage, taping and on‑site care at other activities. "An athletic trainer has multiple positions...the specialty of a trainer is to get athletes to a position to compete and then handle any aches and pains after," a board member said. District staff said the ideal remains a certified athletic trainer, and they currently have limited certified‑trainer coverage (three days) but need broader coverage at other events.

The board voted earlier in the meeting to add the job description to the agenda for discussion. No final hiring decision or motion to adopt the job description was recorded in the public portion of the meeting; staff said they would continue recruiting, consider part‑time hires as district employees, and return with more details.

Ending: The board directed staff to continue pursuing certified athletic trainer coverage while using the proposed job description to allow hiring alternative licensed medical personnel as employees when necessary. Staff said they will verify NHIAA qualification details and return with a recommended job description and implementation options.