School board comes to consensus to continue certified athletic trainer program
JULY 18 - The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Board of Education came to a consensus during its meeting yesterday to continue the certified athletic trainer program with the help of donations from Forsyth and Wake Forest Baptist medical centers.
The medical centers provided 12 certified athletic trainers, medical training and supplies this year to WS/FC high schools. The trainers provided medical assistance during sports practices and games. The contract between the school system and the medical centers ended on June 1.
The school system sent letters of intent yesterday to the medical centers based on conversations between their executives and Superintendent Don Martin.
The letters outline the next steps after the end of the program. If the medical centers agree, each would provide education and training for the certified athletic trainers and a one-time payment of $250,000. They would also make their physicians available to the trainers for consultations.
The school board yesterday indicated that they would use the $500,000 to hire the trainers as WS/FCS employees. The school system would make up the difference between the $500,000 and what is needed to pay the trainers’ salaries and benefits. That difference is expected to be about $200,000. In the interim, school officials would look for ways to pay for the program for future years.
In other actions, the board unanimously agreed to apply for a federal teacher incentive grant. If awarded, the grant would use bonuses and incentive pay to improve teacher recruitment, retention and performance at five high schools – Atkins, Carver, North Forsyth, Parkland and Winston-Salem Preparatory Academy.
The board also voted unanimously to hire Charles McAninch as the principal of West Forsyth High School.
