Concussion Report

Transcript (~8 min @ 1:23:15)

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▶ 1:23:13 Speaker 1: All right. We have five things under the announcements of the chair this evening. We actually moved the concussion report off of the consent agenda. So I'll start there. That'll be the first thing that we discuss this evening. So are there any questions or comments related to that report? Ms. Der, go ahead.

▶ 1:23:31 Speaker 7: Thank you. Um, appreciate this. We see this annually, um, for, and this is for the calendar year 2024.

▶ 1:23:45 Jennifer McAndrew: Um, So I just, I think my, looking at this report, we can see there was a significant increase in concussions from 2023 to 2024. It's more than double. Um, the, it's not, it's, um, you know, I think there could be a lot of reasons for that. Um, we know from looking at the athletics participation reports that in 2024 we were at or exceeding pre pandemic levels of participation in sports. So part of it could be like a literal population thing, more students playing sports, more games, et cetera. Um, although I see that the level is still above pre pandemic concussion levels as reported here. So, um, could be that we're doing better with tracking and reporting and with relationships with physicians in the community, et cetera. Um, but I think what, um, so there could be many reasons and I, I actually don't know. And that's actually what my point is, that there's not enough information in this report. So my suggestion would be that we, um, uh, unless there's a reporting requirement that we need to meet, I'm, which I'm willing to hear about that we hold this and get a little bit more report, um, information in the report about what, like what is the analysis as to why there's such a big increase this year?

▶ 1:25:11 Speaker 4: Sure. I, I did speak with, um, athletic director Fogerty, um, 'cause I saw this as well and was slightly shocked by, um, doubling from, from past years. Um, and was trying to understand, right? Like, did, I don't know where did, did we start a new drill in football? Did we start a new drill in another, you know, what, what were we doing? Where was this increase? Where did it come from? Um, so I think, you know, we would, I don't, that data did not appear to be readily available at this moment in time. So we would have to dig in and, and find that data about, and I'm sure it exists, right? Like which sport, which kiddos, I mean, it is diagnosed through the doctor, uh, as opposed to, you know, it's not, it doesn't go through our athletic trainer or anything. And you guys all know the, the protocol and the policy around that. But, um, you know, I was wondering, is it just more, are, are kids just playing harder? Are we, are we in, uh, experiencing tougher games? Like I, I don't know, um, is there a bigger awareness? But we can certainly see if there's any, um, further information that we can bring to the committee.

▶ 1:26:07 Jennifer McAndrew: Yeah, that would be helpful. I think. I just think that, you know, and we may not know and that's fine, but we don't have any, um,

▶ 1:26:15 Speaker 7: factors, even potential factors listed

▶ 1:26:19 Speaker 4: Here. So, and, and I do, I guess just, sorry to interrupt, but no, um, even if we can't find the information from last year, obviously, how do we track and do better for this year so that we can understand when we get to this time next year, um, of how it's collected, right? What sports? Lots of different pieces. Even if

▶ 1:26:37 Jennifer McAndrew: That information can't be shared because of confidentiality. Just Yeah. How are we using this information to inform our training of coaches? Mm-hmm. Um, how is this information used by the athletic trainer or sometimes we have contracted athletic trainers 'cause um, our salary's not high enough to fill the position for a full-time athletic trainer. Um, you know, what are we like, just a little more information here, I think beyond what's required that we report to the state, which I think is the number mm-hmm. Correct. Um, I think would be really helpful. And, um, again, it could be that we're doing better with getting the information, reporting it, and tracking it, and then that means that we're doing better with the protocols for re return return to participation for those students. Um, and you know, I also know this is, I think it's from six to 12. Yeah, it's, Yeah, Grade six to 12, sorry. So, you know, that could also be, we have, you know, a big middle school population participating in, um, sports and other extracurriculars as well. So I would just like to see a little bit more, or, or maybe a format for a more, um, little bit more robust report going forward. Thank you. Thanks, Mr.

▶ 1:27:52 Margaret Raymond Driscoll: Driscoll. Go ahead. Yeah, I just wanted to amplify actually something, um, that I had been thinking about, um, that Ms. McAndrew um, mentioned, which is, this is a co-curricular report. Mm-hmm. This has, so it could be the band. Mm-hmm. It could be drama, it could be, so I just want the community at large to understand it's not necessarily just athletics. Mm-hmm. Um, but that it could be a wide variety of activities. And if there is data to, um, narrow that down, for example, it's, you know, it could be the drama and somebody slips, you know, so who knows? Are there things that safety protocols that can put be put into place by the district that support, um, healthier outcomes? Thank you. And I would, um, hope that if there, if and when there are things identified and they, if they have budgetary consequences, that those would be included. Because obviously the number one, um, thing we do is we, our students can't learn unless they're safe and healthy. So we wanna certainly have that as a priority.

▶ 1:28:47 Speaker 1: Mr. Hartman, did you wanna add anything?

▶ 1:28:49 Speaker 5: Yeah, thank you. And, and I just, uh, I agree with my colleagues on this. It's concerning to see a, a doubling like that. Um, just thinking through data points that we might wanna see. I certainly also wanna see if there's any, uh, record of repeat concussions. 'cause those are certainly the most severe impact for, uh, anybody who's getting a repeat concussion. Um, and I don't know if that's data that's available, but it would be helpful to understand, um, you know, if we are allowing students to continue through programs with repeated concussions, that seems like a major issue to, to address. Um, and then, uh, you know, I think looking at what programs and, and trying to identify, um, whether there's a trend emerging in one program or another. Um, and to the superintendent's point, I don't know what we have retroactively, but certainly we wanna be informing ourselves to the future when, uh, with this report 'cause it, it should be a report that informs us to understand what decisions we can make about the numbers that we see. So those are some data points that I'm interested in seeing as we return to this at some future date.

▶ 1:29:51 Speaker 1: Any other questions or comments?

▶ 1:29:55 Speaker 1: So I think on the table is to hold so that we can get more information beyond just the numbers that we're seeing in front of us, which I'm certainly happy to suspend a vote this evening so that we can look into this a little bit more. Just on my quick look, it seems as though all we are submitting to the state is the number of head injuries. Um, so I can also double check with attorney linguist to make sure that there aren't any other reporting requirements. Um, procedurally is there anything else we need to do here? If we do decide to hold?

▶ 1:30:28 Speaker 1: Okay, then let's, let's hold and not vote this evening. Um, and I think the superintendent and I both have a few next steps to figure out what's realistic and feasible for us to be able to learn a little bit more.

▶ 1:30:39 Speaker 7: Good. Do you think there's a chance that we need to vote the number to be reported? I know that attorney Lindquist is not here by a certain date. I mean,

▶ 1:30:50 Speaker 1: The date that I see here is August, so I would assume we may have already reported numbers. Okay. But I don't know, we could vote on the numbers this evening if that would be beneficial. Um, and then recognize that we wanna come back with more data just in case there is a requirement.

▶ 1:31:10 Margaret Raymond Driscoll: I wouldn't be comfortable with that unless it is an absolute requirement. I mean, I don't have any, um, if it's, if it's authorizing that, you know, we believe this to be true, um, you know, I think having more information would give me a little bit more comfort level.

▶ 1:31:25 Speaker 7: Okay. So motion to postpone till November 18th. Second.

▶ 1:31:27 Speaker 1: Great. So I have a motion to postpone made by Ms. McAndrew, seconded by Ms. Driscoll. All in favor? And that passes unanimously. Thank you everyone. Um, next up we have the superintendent priority update. And so before I turn it over to Superintendent Berman, I just wanna acknowledge that at the beginning of the year, we had the opportunity to hear from the superintendent with regards to her overall priorities for the year. And given that we're at about the 45 day mark, almost, um, thought it would be a helpful moment to allow for her to just share any updates on progress thus far. So I'll give the floor to you to hear a little bit more. Sure.