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District seeks new athletic training structure after longtime trainer’s retirement; recommends Penn State Health contract
Summary
Following the announced retirement of a long‑time athletic trainer, the district recommended keeping one in‑house athletic trainer and contracting two full‑time trainers (lowest bid: Penn State Health) to restore three‑person coverage; administration estimated recurring savings of roughly $75,000–85,000.
Mechanicsburg administrators told the board on March 24 they expect the retirement of long‑time athletic trainer Dr. Zettlemaier in June and outlined proposed changes to restore consistent coverage across the district’s dispersed athletics venues. The district solicited RFPs from local providers and said two bidders responded; Penn State Health submitted the lower bid.
The recommended staffing model would retain one district athletic trainer (Amy Driver) as the in‑district lead and contract two full‑time athletic trainers through the vendor, giving the district three trainers covering contests and practices. Administrators said contracted trainers would work regular hours (40 hours a week during the school year) and vendors must provide on‑site coverage, compliance training and a vehicle for travel between venues. The district estimated recurring savings in the range of $75,000–85,000 depending on salary allocations and would enter a two‑year contract to evaluate the arrangement.
Administrators described the trainers’ duties—fieldside emergency care, running an athletic training clinic and rehabilitation services, managing AEDs and concussion return‑to‑learn plans—and stressed established relationships and local presence as advantages for Penn State Health. The committee voted to move the contract recommendation to the board for an April decision.
Speakers quoted: A presenter summarized the staffing vision: "We do intend to have one school district athletic trainer… and then two contracted athletic trainers."
