Trustees Okay Use Of Athletic Trainer

Staff Writer

FRUITVALE—Fruitvale ISD will be adding a full-time athletic trainer next year after school board members approved a contract with Trinity Mother Frances Health System.

Jim Rapp, coordinator of sports medicine for Trinity Mother Frances, said the program had agreements with many school insurers to provide what he termed a "zero balance" effect on treatment and rehabilitation costs to a student’s family.

"There are some injuries that may require care that is not part of the zero balance program…We work with a lot of insurance companies to help minimize that potential (cost) exposure to the student," Rapp said.

He went on to explain that the selected athletic trainer would be available for all sports programs at the school, both during the athletic periods on school days and at sports events on evenings.

"If an injury does occur, having an athletic trainer gives you someone trained to do an immediate evaluation, diagnose the injury, give immediate care if needed, and guide and educate the student’s parents if he or she needs to go to the emergency room or see a specialist," Rapp said.

Fruitvale High School Principal Matt Tyner supported the proposal.

"I think it’s a real good deal for our students to have somebody that is educated in sports medicine. All of their trainers have been at the collegiate level, so they’ve seen pretty much everything they are going to see here," he said.

Fruitvale Athletic Director and Football Coach Brent Hutto said he spoke with two other athletic directors, who recommended the move, and added, "Some of the worst injuries I’ve seen happen in practice."

"It’s a good idea," said Fruitvale Interim Superintendent Seth Adams. "Having someone professionally trained to deal with sports injuries really relieves a burden on our coaches, not just in terms of time but mentally."

The board was convinced enough to approve a one-year contract at a cost of around $9,000. Before the vote, board president Rod Hoffpauir said, "Eight or nine thousand dollars sounds cheap for the peace of mind making sure our kids are taken care of."

In another sports-related matter, the board approved purchase of electronic scoreboard systems for the baseball and softball fields. A total of $5,100 in donations had already been pledged for the purchase, leaving $3,350 to be committed by the district.

However, Tyner said he felt confident he could get the remaining amount from area businesses in donations. The motion passed 5-1 with Ronnie Abrams opposing.

The board tabled action on leveling and future maintenance of the football field. Hutto explained the field needs leveling because of a severe drop-off that has developed from the crown, in the center of the field, to the sides.

An item to consider new bleachers for the home side of the football field was also tabled. Adams noted that it would have to go through a bidding process since the purchase would be more than $25,000.

In other matters, the board took the following action:

— Approved two incoming student transfers.

— Approved a Texas Educator Excellence Grant (TEEG) of $40,000 for Hallie Randall Elementary.

— Approved an academic partnership with Lamar University for online access to master’s degree program courses for teachers, at no cost to the school.

— Approved a revision to 2005 local policy for weighted courses and grade point average for current high school students. The district plans to develop new grade point average guidelines for incoming freshmen in fall 2008.

— Approved a modification of local board policy and Texas Association of School Boards agreement for policy online.

— Approved a budget amendment to cover the action taken earlier in the meeting on the baseball and softball field scoreboards purchase.

— Approved the hiring of Rebecca Tuerk as an English arts and reading teacher for the junior high.

— Accepted the resignations of teachers Mary Congleton and Tammy Plunkett.

— Approved a 3 percent raise for both campus principals and the district business manager.

— Approved a measure to have the curriculum director report directly to the superintendent.