Norwin seeks amended sports medicine bids; athletes want trainers retained

Three regional health care systems have until Friday afternoon to submit another bid to provide sports medicine and school physician services for Norwin’s athletes for the next five school years.

The school board on Monday postponed awarding a contract to Allegheny Health Network of Pittsburgh to allow AHN, UPMC and Excela Health an opportunity to submit a “final best offer,” said Superintendent Jeff Taylor. Only those three health care systems will be permitted to submit an amended bid, Taylor said.

The delay was prompted by one bidder submitting an amendment to its bid after the March 31 deadline, Taylor said.

He declined to reveal which of the hospital systems amended its bid for the contract, which takes effect July 1. Ryan Kirsch, business affairs director, said the district still is involved in contract negotiations.

The administration had recommended that the school board award the contract to AHN, which came in $148,000 under the second lowest bid.

In addition to price, AHN’s bid met all requirements for three athletic trainers, a school physician and other related services.

The school board is not scheduled to meet again until May 10.

UPMC spokesman Rick Pietzak said in a statement that the health system constantly explores opportunities to provide care to young athletes.

“There is nothing new to announce at this time,” Pietzak said in an email.

Excela Health Dr. James Masterson, director of Excela Health sports medicine, said in a statement that during its five years serving Norwin “we have developed relationships with athletes, and their families, that have supported them in ways that transcend clinical care.”

“We look forward to a favorable decision by the school board regarding our proposal and continuing a partnership that has a proven track record of delivering outstanding sports medicine,”Masterson said.

Stephanie Waite, a spokeswoman for AHN, could not be reached for comment.

The possibility of awarding the contract for athletic trainer services and team doctor to an entity other than Excela Health has sparked a controversy among some residents and student athletes.

An online petition created to convince the school district to keep Excela’s trainers, David and Angela Snowberger, received about 1,195 supporters as of Tuesday morning. About 50 athletes from the baseball and softball teams attended the meeting at Hahntown Elementary School in a show of support for the Snowbergers.

Anna Durmis, a senior soccer player who has committed to play at the College of William & Mary, praised the medical attention the Snowbergers gave her, particularly when she suffered a severe ankle injury as a sophomore.

In conjunction with delaying the awarding a contract to AHN, the board did not approve an agreement to name the high school gymnasium the AHN Arena at Norwin.