The Nashville High School Board of Education had a long meeting last night with plenty of heavy discussion on some sports issues.  One dealt with concussions.  Representatives from HSHS Saint Joseph’s Hospital in Breese presented information on the Impact Program, which deals with concussions from contact sports.  This program includes an initial computerized test on reaction time, speed and memory to set a baseline of the student athletes’ cognitive level.  This would be compared to a student’s results of retaking the test after suffering a concussion, allowing for a comparison to make sure they are back to normal and can return to the team and play.  After a long discussion, the Board approved of going with the Impact program, but not making it mandatory for every student to take the free baseline test this year.  They and the coaches strongly recommend taking the test.  The cost would come in from taking the retest.  There would only be 1 charge for a retest, no matter how many were needed, until the student was cleared.  It would be up to the parents’ to have their child go to Saint Joseph’s and get the retests by their specialists or going to their family doctor for a checkup, who may be able to evaluate a concussion problem.  There was concern that students would have to go to Saint Joseph’s for the retest and doctor’s evaluation.  The athletic trainer and a certified doctor are the only ones able to clear someone to return to action.  Many doctors are beginning to decline making this determination, due to liability issues if the person is not really ready.  The Impact Program is used by professional sports teams, college teams and many area schools.  Some of these schools have made the initial baseline test mandatory.  Included in this contract with Saint Joseph’s is to supply an athletic trainer to the school.  The Board approved of the contract with changes in the wording of the consent form, which will need to be completed for any student to play a sport, but gives the option to take the baseline test or not.  The other topic with plenty of discussion concerned only taking 1 week off from allowing football practice, instead of the traditional 2 weeks off before school.  One week is mandatory from IHSA rules and regulations.  Head football coach Tim Kuhn reported that being off 2 weeks after practicing and conditioning through the summer is a real setback, considering the first game is a couple weeks away from that time period.  Discussion involved what sports this would include to be able to practice for an additional week.  The Board did not set a policy, but directed Athletic Director Wayne Harre to make it open for fall sports to be able to have practices during the summer, but to have the week before school starts off.  In a related topic, the Board discussed keeping practices of an upcoming sport from occurring while the current sport is still going on, until the IHSA says practicing can begin.  They feel an athlete should do one at a time and not be made to feel they need to be at the other sport’s practice or not be able to make the team.  The Board feels this shows courtesy to the students and coaches.  Harre said he would talk about all of this with the coaches this year.