Two local health care networks are vying for a 10-year contract with Lehighton Area School District to provide exclusive sports medicine and behavioral health services, among other benefits.

Lehighton’s athletic committee heard one-hour pitches from Lehigh Valley Health Network, its existing provider, and St. Luke’s University Health Network on Tuesday morning.

St. Luke’s unveiled a proposal with a total value of $7.01 million to the district over the 10 years, while LVHN’s total value was $5.95 million.

“We appreciate both organizations taking the time to present and we are fortunate to have some really great options for the district,” Lehighton Athletic Director Kyle Spotts said.

The district did not indicate when it would make a final decision, but both proposals were slated to start in the 2020-21 school year.

LVHN

First to present Tuesday, LVHN outlined a $5.95 million over 10 years that includes:

• $3.3 million in sports medicine services including three athletic trainers; a sports performance coach; sports physicals three times per year; training, coordination, education and ImPact testing; physician game coverage and training room visits; CPR/AED training and certifications; and a one time purchase of six automated external defibrillators.

• $86,000 per year in behavioral health programming

• $130,000 per year in health care and wellness services including COVID-19 return to work and sports services; health plan periodic assessments; student health physician services and Chapter 339 support; faculty, staff and district services; and Weller Health Services, and

• $73,500 per year in sponsorship payments.

“We’ve been speaking with Lehighton’s administration since last summer about enhancing the value of our current partnership that we have enjoyed for the past 20 plus years,” said Brian Leader, LVHN Vice President of Neurosciences, Orthopedics and Institute for Surgical Excellence. “We’ve provided Lehighton with the same two trainers for the last decade. They are very ingrained in the school community and they work well with the coaching staffs. “We believe we are the best partner for Lehighton and we have the track record.”

The LVHN student services proposal includes a medical career pathways program.

“What we do is have a 10-week program with a cohort of students for an hour to two hours per week and bring them into our facilities to see the continuum of health care,” Leader said. “With a total knee replacement, for example, we take the student through everything from the initial diagnosis, to pre-surgical testing, the actual live surgical event and the entire recovery process.”

A licensed behavioral health specialist would also provide outpatient services up to 40 hours per week on site at Lehighton district schools, as well as individual therapy sessions for up to 25 referred students per week.

The Weller Center Services Proposal includes programs for K-12 students, staff and parents on mental health, drug and alcohol abuse, bullying, etc.

St. Luke’s

The 10-year contract proposed by St. Luke’s, valued at $7.01 million, features:

• A $50,000 new partnership sponsorship payment

• $75,000 in special sponsorship donations

• $100,000 in loyalty partnership sponsorship payments

• $7,500 for streaming equipment

• $9,000 in AEDs.

• $25,000 worth of professional and elite athlete appearances

• $50,000 annual partner sponsorship per year

• $5,000 per year for training room supplies

• A $5,000 per year donation to the Lehighton Area Education Foundation

• $5,000 per year for a game day ambulance allowance

• $5,000 per year for an extraordinary athlete scholarship

• No charge for the sports medicine annual fee (a $55,250 savings)

• No charge for the school physician service fee (a $7,500 savings)

• $25,000 a year in benefits through the Adopt-A-School Program

• $72,000 per year in fitness and wellness discounts for faculty and staff

• $100,000 per year in behavioral health services, and

• $310,000 in sports professional services including three athletic trainers, a performance coach, a dedicated team physician, a dedicated sorts physical therapist and additional support.

“We know these are not uncomplicated decisions and there are relationships formed,” John Hauth, Senior Network Administrator, Sports Medicine, St. Luke’s University Health Network, said. “One of the things we wanted to share was the fully integrated model we developed and have used to become the region’s leader over the last decade.”

Hauth said St. Luke’s would dedicate a psychotherapist to Lehighton, which he said has helped get ahead of some issues from a behavioral health perspective in some other districts.

St. Luke’s also touted its YESS Program, which provides integrated mental health treatment year-round for children and adolescents in the district. The goal, according to Tuesday’s presentation, is to help students overcome emotional, behavioral or social problems that interfere with success at school and at home.

“We want to be here for you to help improve the health and overall well-being of students and the larger school community,” Hauth said.