Superintendent of Schools Kimberly Hill signed a contract with the Rehabilitation Center of Southern Maryland (RCSM) on Sept. 18 that restarted the program Sept. 22 and will gradually restore full services over the next month. The Board of Education in June eliminated athletic trainers as part of a $5.5 million budget reduction to cover funding shortfalls.
“Athletic trainers were the highest priority on our list of things to restore if we were able to reallocate funds. Through cost-saving efforts, we have been able to redistribute enough funds to reinstate trainers. Savings included minor adjustments to other programs, such as summer school, without major effect,” Hill said.
The contract with RCSM will provide the services of athletic trainers to the seven CCPS high schools once all trainers are hired. Initially, one trainer will rotate among the seven high schools providing services on a weekly basis. Once fully implemented, the athletic trainer program provides for evaluations of injuries, return-to-play decisions and implementation of concussion protocol, field assessments of concussions, treatment of injuries using first aid, administration of ImPact concussion testing and other services for student athletes.
Athletic trainers serve more than 2,500 athletes annually, and in the 2013-14 school year trainers treated 1,200 major injuries such as broken bones, knee and shoulder injuries and concussions, said A.K. Johnson, coordinator of student activities for CCPS. Last school year, trainers monitored 81 students for concussions. Additionally, the trainers treated more than 1,000 minor injuries, from bee stings to broken nails.
Charles County Public Schools provides 26,500 students in grades prekindergarten through 12 with an academically challenging education. Located in Southern Maryland, Charles County Public Schools has 35 schools that offer a technologically advanced, progressive and high quality education that builds character, equips for leadership and prepares students for life, careers and higher education.