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Contract negotiations between the Washington Teachers’ Union (WTU) and D.C. Public Schools (DCPS) have spotlighted the critical issue of school safety, specifically the pressing need for more Athletic Trainers to support a rapidly growing student-athlete population.
Despite the tripling of this population over the last 32 years, the number of ATs has remained stagnant, raising concerns about potentially severe consequences for student-athletes.
An anonymous DCPS employee expressed frustration over the longstanding inaction despite previous requests for additional staff, particularly after the introduction of middle school sports in 2004-2005.
"Nothing has been done and we don’t know why."
The heart of the issue lies in DCPS's reliance on D.C. Code § 1–617.08, which grants managers the authority over staffing decisions, to justify their refusal to expand the Athletic Trainer workforce. This stance has hindered progress in negotiations, even as both sides met for discussions, notably absent DCPS Chancellor Lewis D. Ferebee.
Amid these challenges, the importance of Athletic Trainers cannot be overstated. Their role has evolved from merely supervising games to providing comprehensive healthcare, emergency planning, and support services to families in need.
However, the current staffing crisis has made it difficult to maintain this level of care, with one DCPS staff member warning of the dire consequences of this shortfall.
“With the current staffing shortage, it’s impossible to provide the level of comprehensive healthcare that athletic trainers are trained to provide. It has become dangerous and DCPS is one catastrophic injury away from asking themselves why an athletic trainer was not present.”
The situation has sparked broader legislative efforts, with D.C. Council members introducing the Public School Health Services Amendment Act to mandate nursing coverage in all District schools.
Meanwhile, DCPS is reportedly seeking to hire a 15th Athletic Trainer, which would mark the first increase in staff since the program's inception in 1991. Yet, DCPS has not confirmed the allocation of athletic trainers for the next school year, while emphasizing that their current staffing "often exceeds" that of competing districts.
The story of Jennifer Rheeling, one of DCPS's first Athletic Trainers, underscores the challenges faced by these professionals, from managing extensive caseloads across multiple schools to dealing with administrative burdens that detract from direct patient care.
Now at KIPP College Preparatory Public Charter School, Rheeling appreciates the opportunity to focus on her expertise without administrative hurdles, highlighting the need for respect and support for athletic trainers within DCPS.
“There’s a shortage of people who want to work in school settings because of pay, hours and generally respect. DCPS has a competitive salary for athletic trainers, and you can’t always fix the hours associated with [the job], but the lack of respect and administrative support is exhausting. Not having time to meet the needs of your student-athletes at the level they deserve is exhausting.”
This unfolding situation underscores the critical role of athletic trainers in ensuring the safety and well-being of student-athletes, and the urgent need for DCPS to address the staffing crisis to prevent any future tragedies.
