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WINSTON-SALEM—The Winston-Salem Forsyth County Board of Education has agreed to keep certified athletic trainers in-play for now.

The 12 positions were originally supplied by Forsyth and Wake Forest Baptist Medical Centers. It was part of a $1 million program providing extra medical care for high school athletes.

Approximately 153 high school students experienced at least one concussion in the 2011 to 2012 school year and trainers help identify those injuries.

"It puts a very different standard for everybody that's working on the system. That safety is top priority and their call comes before the coach's call," said Board of Education member Elisabeth Motsinger.

The board said the hospitals are not renewing the contract but will provide some funding during the transitional period.

"We've actually increased our man hours really by about 50 percent over what we've had in the past. So we've had more coverage, more expertise and the more we have the safer our practices are and the safer our games are," said superintendent Don Martin.

The board said they plan on taking over the 12 salaried employees because they have become an important part of the team. The two hospitals and several of the athletic trainers declined News 14 Carolina's request for interviews.