St. Mary's school board approves raises for athletic trainers

Athletic trainers in St. Mary’s County will be receiving an increase in pay after the board of education voted to increase their salaries at an April 24 meeting in Leonardtown.

In 2022, the board awarded a certified athletic trainer contract to Waldorf-based ProFlex for a trainer at each of Great Mills, Leonardtown and Chopticon high schools on an as-needed basis.

The duration was for one year with the option to renew for four additional one-year periods valid through Aug. 31, 2027.

The estimated annual usage was 1,000 to 1,200 hours per school totaling 3,000 to 3,600 hours at $39 per hour for a total estimated yearly budget of $117,000 to $140,000.

The school board requested an increase to the estimated annual usage to 5,720 hours to cover 11 months of the school year at 40 hours per week as well as an increase in pay to $44.45 for fiscal 2025.

“We are cutting, as a system, 70 positions. Seventy fewer people will work for St. Mary’s County public schools next year,” Superintendent Scott Smith said.

He continued, saying, “When you are cutting teachers it is very challenging to bring on additional positions. I understand the incredible caliber of the people providing services to our student-athletes at the three schools. They are top flight.”

During a public comment session prior to the school board’s approval of the contract increase, several student-athletes and coaches spoke, most of whom stressed that using contracted athletic trainers who do not receive benefits was detrimental to the school system.

Athletic trainers “must work nights, weekends with no holiday or spring break,” Chopticon High School student-athletes Carys Oliver and Rylee Copsey said. “To not provide them with the same benefits and stability of other employees is unfair and wrong. We have over 500 athletes at Chopticon High School and our athletic trainer supports and connects with each and every one of us.”

Smith said the school system also received around 50 or 60 emails pleading to move the three athletic trainers to full-time employees with benefits instead of contractual positions. He said starting salary plus benefits would be about $85,000 per position (one at each high school).

The modifications will increase the estimated contract amount for fiscal 2025 to $254,254, an amount Smith called “competitive” to other school systems.

Assistant Superintendent of Fiscal Services and Human Resources Tammie McCourt found two budget decreases in a memorandum of understanding with College of Southern Maryland for dual enrollment and a reconciliation of PSAT, SAT and AP participation, which would mean the contract would add just $67,000 to the fiscal 2025 budget.