Godley ISD approves assistant athletic trainer FTE after trainer outlines large coverage gaps

The Godley ISD board approved a new full‑time equivalent position for an assistant athletic trainer following a presentation that detailed significant coverage gaps and student-safety risks.

Coach Harmon, the district’s athletic trainer, told trustees that a single trainer is currently responsible for more than 710 student-athletes—well above the National Athletic Trainers’ Association recommendation of approximately 1:300. She said roughly 25% of all athletic activities receive no athletic trainer coverage and another portion operates with "on‑call" coverage only; junior high activities had the largest coverage gap.

"One athletic trainer is currently responsible for more than 710 student athletes across both campuses," Coach Harmon said. "Adding a junior-high athletic trainer would significantly improve our junior-high coverage and adding a second assistant at the high school would move us toward near-complete active coverage." Rank One data presented during the update showed thousands of treatment and rehabilitation encounters and suggested on‑campus athletic training produced measurable medical and financial value for families.

Board members voted to create a combined FTE that pairs an assistant athletic trainer role with a part‑time CTE teacher assignment to help offset district costs and expand student career pathway opportunities in sports medicine. District staff said some of the budgetary impact would be covered by reallocating department and administrative budgets rather than increasing the overall tax rate.

Next steps: staff will recruit for the position, finalize job descriptions and align training with the district’s CTE pathway so the role supports both athlete healthcare and hands‑on student learning.