Activities director reports staffing pressures, $20/hr trainer cost and software transition

Mitch, the district activities presenter, told the Marshall Public School District board on Nov. 12 that fall athletics and activities produced strong results — sending 18 programs to state-level competition last year and earning multiple coach recognitions — while the department faces staffing and operational challenges.

Mitch said the district shares the cost of athletic trainers with partners ("about like a $50.50 cost"), pays trainers roughly $20 per hour, and is reimbursed for postseason events by sections and the conference. "That price, dollars 20 an hour, has been the same since I started here," he said, adding that trainers split time between game coverage and rehabilitation work in the office and do not travel with teams to every away event.

He described a staffing plan to increase trainer hours from 25 to 30 per week as certifications come through, noted ongoing coach vacancies in some programs (robotics among them), and said the department is transitioning from the 'our school today' platform to Arbiter’s new registration and scheduling system over the coming year. Mitch cautioned the platform change will be a "big lift" for department staff but said the fall implementation of Arbiter registration "worked out pretty well" with manageable issues.

Mitch also summarized pending State High School League work on sections and enrollment/participation rules that could move some scheduling decisions earlier in the cycle. Board members asked follow-up questions about trainer costs and whether trainers provide weight-room training; Mitch responded that trainers primarily provide game-based support and rehabilitation clinic time.

No board action was taken during the presentation; the update was provided for information and planning.