CHANGE REPORTS ON SCHOOL BASED HEALTH CENTERS; DISCUSSES EXPANDING TO OAK GLEN

      The services provided to students by the School Based Health Centers at Weirton Elementary and the Weirton Complex (Weir High and Weir Middle) were detailed at Monday’s Board of Education meeting.   Lisa Mowry, CHANGE, Inc. CEO,   said the Centers offer students and staff access to providers such as nurse practitioners, physician’s assistants and staff.  That access enables  students and staff to stay healthy and  stay in school. 

       While the SBHC has been in Weirton schools since 2017, the Centers have yet to be established at schools in Northern Hancock County.  Mowry was asked about expanding those services to Oak Glen High and Oak Glen Middle and what funding was available for the project.   She said CHANGE has the funding to provide the equipment for the Center if existing space at the school could be converted for use.

        The SBHC opened at the newly constructed Weirton Elementary in 2017 with 462 students serviced that first year.   In 2018 the number increased to 540.   In 2019,  the centers were expanded to include Weirton Elementary and serviced 901 students    In 2021 that number had grown to 1854.    The services provided now include chronic illness diagnosis, dental exams, immunization and behavioral health diagnosis.

        The overall students served breakdown reveals  that  12% live 100 percent or below the poverty level, 8.7% are uninsured; 47% are covered under Medicaid, and 43% are covered under private insurance.

        In other business the Board:

**Approved the policy governing the professional and service staff leave;

**Approved regulations for the Education of Student’s Exceptionalities revisions made by the State Board of Education;

**Transferred Jennifer Snider from Title I Reading, New Manchester Elementary to Social Studies, Oak Glen High;

**Named Bonnie Wiley Assistant Swimming Coach at Oak Glen High;

**Granted Amy McKitrick, cook III at the Central Kitchen, an unpaid leave of absence;

**Approved Collin Finch as a substitute bus driver;

**Approved the resignation of Bettye Mullins as a bus operator,   Mullins is retiring;

**Scheduled the next regular meeting of the Board for Dec. 5, 6:30 p.m. at the Rockefeller Career Center.