Parkway considers helmet sensors

ROCKFORD - Parkway school board members are considering buying helmet sensors to protect football players from head injuries.

Adding the Impact Response System to the team's helmet's would cost about $150 per helmet, Steve Arndts of equipment-maker Riddell told board members at Tuesday night's meeting.

"This is about the safety of your students," Arndts said. "I personally fit each player with a helmet to make sure they are getting the best protection. It's actionable data that is being established. It will even alert a coach or trainer how many times a player has taken a hit to the head, which would be such an asset not just for that child's health, but during training."

Arndts said several other Ohio school districts - including Parkway and others in the Grand Lake area - have sturdier-constructed "Speed" helmets, but he believes Parkway is the first to consider adding the sensors.

The sensors can tell the location of a hit on the helmet, the duration of the hit, as well as the helmet's rotational and linear acceleration, he said.

Data is transmitted to a monitor, which then alerts coaches to the type and velocity of the hit. Coachers or trainers can then determine if the athlete should continue playing or be checked for a concussion or other injury. It can also help coaches improve a player's technique, he said.

Alerts are based upon player-specific thresholds including player position, player skills and the number of impacts, he added.

The sensors are guaranteed for four to five years and the helmets would get annual check-ups and battery replacements, Arndts said.

School athletic director Doug Hughes said the team has 42 to 52 football players each season. The district has 43 Riddell Revolution Speed helmets, which cost about $329 each, he said.

"They're the best-rated helmets on the market," Hughes said.

Coldwater schools has 180 Speed helmets in use by junior high and high school players and St. Marys schools has a few of the Speed helmets, officials said. No other local officials reported being informed of the sensors.

Board members took no action regarding the helmets.

In other action, board members,

• re-elected Kim Brandt as board president and elected Tom Lyons vice president.

• decided to continue meeting at 6:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of every month.

• approved renting a school bus to the Mercer County Educational Service Center for $500 per month.

• approved the use of a school bus for the club wrestling team during the 2014-15 year.

• approved district membership in Rockford Area Development Corp. for 2015 at a cost of $100.

• approved Art Bader as a tutor for the 2014-15 school year at $14 per hour.

• approved the amounts and rates as determined by the budget commission and authorized the necessary tax levies and certified them to the county auditor.

• held an executive session for an appointment or evaluation and investigation of charges or complaints against an employee, official or student. No action was taken.