Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Athletics topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board hears athletics report; district says there are no athletic trainers and proposes special committee
Summary
The board heard an athletics update highlighting student awards and team achievements, was told there are currently no athletic trainers available through the hospital, and agreed to move forward with plans for a special athletics committee to recommend program and staffing changes.
The Franklin County Board of Education received an athletics update on Oct. 25 that included student recognitions, team results and a staffing gap for athletic trainers.
Athletics staff spotlighted outstanding student athletes and teams, including Gavin Hill and middle-school girls soccer, which advanced to the state tournament. The presenter also listed operating budget figures for athletics: about $96,500 in operating funds remain after open purchase orders and roughly $164,000 in open POs were listed.
When asked about athletic trainer coverage, Doctor Alsop said plainly, "So there are no athletic trainers." He said the district has been waiting on the hospital to provide trainers for several years and is pursuing a plan B: contracting with local physical therapists. Two physical therapists have agreed to provide coverage for high-school home events on a limited basis, and discussions with a PT about a more substantial arrangement for next year are ongoing.
Athletics staff proposed a special committee to dive deeper into retention, feeder-program development, community and alumni engagement, and expanding college exposure for student-athletes. The presenter asked the board to approve committee membership; board members raised concerns about gender balance on the initial member list and asked for clarity about roles. Miss Crabtree agreed to be added to the membership list; the presenter said formal approval of the full membership list will come back to the board next month.
The discussion was presented as a planning and recommendation process rather than a delegation of authority: the committee is empowered only to make recommendations to the board.
