Columbia’s school board has given the green light to a 12-page memorandum of understanding to establish a school-based primary care health center for students.
CPS’ Michelle Baumstark tells 939 the Eagle that it will be housed in the district’s Field building on Rangeline. She says this is a unique proposal to create greater access to health care for our students. Baumstark says the health center will provide care in an effort to maximize student success. Primary care services will include vision services, preventative visits and acute visits like sore throat and fever. It will also include in-house lab services like strep tests and influenza. Counseling services will also be available.
Ms. Baumstark notes services will be free to lower-income students and that there will be a sliding fee schedule, as dictated by federal poverty guidelines. Baumstark notes there’s no budgetary impact to the District and that Clarity is responsible for supply expenses, training and travel.
The board also voted Monday evening to approve a $371-million budget, and former CPS teacher Karen Hayes has been sworn-in as the new school board member.
