Mary McDaniel will be the athletic trainer Friday night when Gaffney High opens the football season against Dorman.

McDaniel has been the trainer for all Gaffney High sports since she began working with the school district several years ago.

She works with longtime team physician Dr. Robert Kaemmerlen on sidelines and helps with the prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of injuries suffered by players.

The question is whether McDaniel will be paid to work school athletic contests this school year.

Cherokee County Superintendent Dr. Bill James said the district is waiting on attorneys to make a ruling on whether the school's athletic trainer position can be changed to address a certification issue.

The Athletic Trainers Act requires all trainers pass an exam and have met the athletic training curriculum requirements of a college. A rival school's trainer recently raised questions over whether McDaniel is properly certified.

McDaniel was not allowed to work as athletic trainer at last week's American Community Bank football jamboree in the new Reservation.

The school board's personnel committee met Tuesday afternoon for 80 minutes in closed session to discuss the athletic trainer certification issue.

The personnel committee voted unanimously to recommend the district allow McDaniel to work the Gaffney High football games on a voluntary basis.

The school board won't meet until Sept. 14 to officially take action on the committee's recommendation.

James said the athletic trainer will be compensated for the duties if the district is able to change the position to meet state guidelines.

Gaffney High football coach and athletic director Phil Strickland attended the meeting to voice his concerns that the issue needed to be settled in time for the football season on Friday.