College Station ISD athletics requests third trainer at each high school to improve coverage
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Summary
Athletics staff told trustees that high‑school programs need an additional athletic trainer at each comprehensive campus to reduce coverage gaps during overlapping events; presenters cited more than 1,300 new injuries and 91 instances when no trainer was available, while some trustees expressed budget concerns.
An athletics department representative asked the board to approve adding one athletic trainer at each comprehensive high school to improve day‑to‑day coverage and rehabilitation services. The presenter said the current ratio at the high schools is roughly "1 trainer for every 600 to 700 kids" and that the proposed staffing would lower that to about 1:400.
The athletics presenter provided usage numbers to support the request: "if you break that down per day... you've got 3,600 kids that came in in the fall semester at Consol" and the district recorded "over 1300 new injuries" in a semester, including "61 broken bones" and "46" injuries requiring surgery. He also said there were "91 instances" when a campus had one or no trainer available due to travel or absence, and that the district sometimes uses contracted trainers to fill gaps.
Supporters on the board noted the safety and rehabilitation benefits and the role trainers play in limiting academic disruption by keeping students in class rather than out for repeated physical‑therapy visits. Several trustees also raised budget questions; one trustee said classroom funding must be the top priority and asked administrators to show how the new positions would fit into the district’s tightening budget.
Athletics leadership said the added trainers could be placed on the teacher pay scale with a stipend and, if desired, could serve in the classroom part‑time to reduce class sizes. Administration and the board said the staffing request will move through the regular budget process for further analysis rather than receiving immediate approval at the workshop.
