SALEM — The Mt. Abram High School sports community has good news coming its way. After a series of budget cuts, sports like every other line item took a hit.

School board members cut the junior varsity coaches’ positions for all sports as well as the subcontracted part-time service of the athletic trainer. School board members saved $6,000 to $7,000 by eliminating the athletic trainer’s position.

The position which was held by Jeremy Starbird of Strong was contracted through Franklin Community Health Network.

Being a community partner, Franklin Memorial Hospital recently announced that it will defer any costs associated with the trainer’s position for the next academic year.

MSAD #58 Superintendent Quenten Clark thanked executive vice president Jerry Cayer and the entire FMH community. “I am sure that the hospital faces its own challenges. The school community will not forget your generosity,” Clark said in an email to Cayer.

“I’m very pleased to continue my services at Mt. Abram,” Starbird said. He said it’s been important to keep athletes healthy over the years and said he’s pleased that others also understand the importance and benefits of having an athletic trainer included with their sports programs.