Correction: Athletic trainer could be in Gentry's future

— The details of a possible plan for shared costs between the Gentry School District and Siloam Springs Regional Hospital to provide a full-time athletic trainer for the Gentry School District are on the agenda for discussion and possible school board action at an upcoming meeting.

According to Brian Little, Gentry School District’s athletic director, the district had hired its own part-time trainer for a year (four or five years ago) and then another medical system had provided a part-time athletic trainer to the district in several of the following years, but the provided service was discontinued.

According to Little, he had opportunity to talk to a representative from Siloam Springs Regional Hospital about the possibility of providing an athletic trainer and received a tentative offer to partner to provide full-time athletic trainer services for the district.

The Eagle Observer mistakenly reported on March 11 that a trainer had been provided in years past by Siloam Springs Regional Hospital, but the discontinued part-time trainer was provided by another medical system outside the immediate area.

Should such a proposed plan receive official hospital and board approval, Little said the trainer would work full-time in the Gentry School District and would serve as trainer for all sports and activities year round.

Little asked the school board on Feb. 23 if it wanted him to pursue this and come back with more details at a future meeting. The board voiced approval, and Randy Barrett, Gentry School District superintendent, said he was interested in seeing the Gentry students have this service available for the shared cost.