Weatherly Area School Board will decide on Wednesday whether it will enter into an agreement with St. Luke’s University Health Network for athletic trainer services.

The school district currently is at the end of a five-year contract with St. Luke’s for a trainer to attend various school athletic events. This year’s contract cost the district $11,500.

There are some changes to the proposed contract, including changing the terms from a five-year to a three-year contract, with the option to extend it two more years.

The cost for the first year of the agreement, which will be the 2026-27 school year, would be $35,000. The second year, $60,000. The third year, $70,000. The fourth year, if the contact is extended, would be $79,500; and the fifth year, $89,000. St. Luke’s would guarantee the rates.

“What changed to make (the contract) go up to $35,000 for this coming year?” board member Gerard Grega asked.

“Geisinger offered a more expensive contract; but did not have anyone to fill the position,” Superintendent Dr. Robert Croop said. “Lehigh Valley would not offer a contract, because they do not have any trainers. Commonwealth wouldn’t even call us back.

“They (St. Luke’s) are saying that they’re no longer doing contracts the way they did them in the past. They are no longer sponsoring schools, and they are charging a higher price across the board.”

Grega questioned why the school district even needs an athletic trainer.

“I’ll speak for myself,” Croop responded. “I don’t vote on this (contract). This is done for the safety of our students. Students get injured in practice, just as much if not more so in games.

“What I brought to the board after speaking with the athletic committee is a contract from St. Luke’s that guarantees us a full-time athletic trainer for three years.”