Greg Olear: Reading Charles Dickens Today
2 hours ago
Dear Christina,
I'm struggling with this issue. At last week's board meeting at Stubbs, the board heard the impassioned pleas of those advocating that we approve a plan to convert a portion of our headquarters, the Drew Building, into a health clinic as part of Christina's Community School intiative in the City of Wilmington. The board is scheduled to vote next month on the plan.
Children and Families 1st (no relation to our blog, Children & Educators First) has enlisted the Henrietta Johnson Medical Center as the potential partner. HJ already has a clinic in Southbridge. They would be opening a satelite location in 3,200 sq. ft. of space in Drew to be accessible by a separate entrance. The Community Schools project will identify and obtain the funding for the conversion of the space. In return, Christina will allow Henrietta Johnson to use the space for free in addition to conitnuing to pay the utilities on the space. HJ will then provide the health care services to any member of the public who seeks medical care (covered either by ones' health insurance or on a sliding fee scale based on ability to pay.)
The benefits are obvious - the plan creates accessible healthcare for children and adults on the east side of town eliminating unreliable transportation burdens affecting area residents. And I know its right to make healthcare as accessible as possible for our children. It's our moral obligation.
Yet, I struggle with the idea of using tax payer money earmarked for education to support a medical center. So, I'm putting out to you, Christina - please share your thoughts in the comments section.
Thank You,
Elizabeth
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Morally and ethically, it is a right and good thing to do. I see those dollars as education dollars in the sense that they wrap around the child. Healthy kids and parents can get to school and get their children to school. The synergy of this is a great idea and I support it 100%
We plan to do something similar in Red Clay with RTTT funds--make the school a community center with medical and other social services.
John I disagree and believe education dollars are allocated for education. Yes we must teach health class. We have school nurses. However using schools as health clinics is a dangerous move because like RTTT the funding is not sustainable and will cost local taxpayers while at the same time the governor will cut education funding to the schools.
Now if an organization like Christian Care or even a state agency wants to put a program in our schools and bring funding, sure let them use surplus space for free.
Frederika when the RTTT funds are gone what happens to the centers?
Folks it is a dangerous move and like anything the feds push its density to fail or cost taxpayers more. Every poor child and adult under 65 is eligible for Medicaid. Is someone wants to use a school for a weekend or off school day dental, eye or other free clinic fine let them use the space for free.
What next homeless shelter in the schools?
The government is passing the buck and their responsibilities.
If I say cruel sorry but when its time to fund these programs with local education money will teachers and admin complain when there is no money for well deserved wage increases or benefits? Its for the kids as long as it doesn't come out of my pocket ????????
Kilroy - the proposed plan is to use excess space at Drew - our administrative headquarters. It's not in a school but located near several. Again, the space would be free to the HJ but Christina would cover the utilities. At least that's what I was told when I asked about it at the last public board meeting.
Does the fact that pushing health services into a community whose children have high rates of absenteeism and may aid in decreasing those rates change the way you feel? In your opinion, does it make those utilities costs an educational expense vs a subsidization of healthcare expenditure?
I ask because in NYC, where the community schools model began, many of the schools have their health care centers embedded in the schools. However, those subsidizations are paid for by monies generated through taxes that come from that specific borough, whereas Christina's tax base is spread over the city AND suburbs. Now, those suburban families could use the services of the health center, if they had transportation to the center...
As you can see, I am really trying to weigh the pros and cons to arrive a vote that reflects consideration of all Christina's tax base while balancing it with the needs of our students.
Sadly, I'm not generating very much in the way of comments on this post. I was really hoping that this avenue would inform my vote. Elizabeth
I'm not a fan of of this becasue I think the money for eduction should go towards eduction. I think there are many ways the money could be spent in the classrooms.
I do agree with Kilroy about that a lot of these people would be eligible for medicaid.
Although a lot of high schools now have a health clinic in the schools. Is this the same? If not then no money for eduction shouldn't be used for this clinic.
My biggest fear is state government aka people like Markell who dream big and pass the buck onto the taxpayers.
Every poor persons including children are entitled to Medicaid and that is a fact! Once it again it all goes back to the parents who apparently don't out their children's health first just as some do with their children's education.
I see the point about the utility cost however , the building has to be heated anyway and pretty much the lights are on. Space in once thing and if there is room great. But we cannot allow more money meant for the classroom be diverted for non instructional community programs.
It sound like the case of the brother in-law who needs a place just for one night but never leaves.
I may sound cruel as if I don't care about kids. But the fact remains poor kids get health care and community health clinic can be set up anywhere.
I am all for routine eye exams and hear test at schools. This was done years ago and for flu epidemics, sure line the kids up.
The way government especially Jack Markell has be doing things I can not trust the system!
As far as emotional support / health I think our school counselors are a great front line person to help student and help secure professional help.
Arne Duncan has this Vision that school building should be the center of the community and be open near 24 hours. Sounds great but how much has been legislated to do so?
I think it is a noble thought but there in underlining concerns that want to shift funding and responsibility away from those agencies currently failing. Hey , why not have a medical van roaming the city on weekends and days schools not in session?
Kilroy has got this one all wrong. I love that guy, but he is just off base here. We are conflating an offset of utilities against the massive greater good to be done by a medical center on the east side of Wilmington. This is a social justice issue. I am 100% in favor of this GREAT idea!
FYI - a day late dollar short I guess. Yes, it is a good idea for CSD to help support this health care access site on the eastside.
This was discussed, studied and formally recommended to the State over a decade ago when the Neighborhood Schools Act was determined to likely concentrate poverty in Wilmington's elementary schools, severely weaken the education environment and exacerbate the ethnic achievement gap without some remedy and intervention. You should read the report commissioned by city government in 2000. The State ignored it to the peril of a generation of city children and their now-failing schools.
Models for expanded community services like a health center were cited in the report of the Wilmington Neighborhood Schools Committee published in January 2001 as Wilmington's response to House Bill 300, the Neighborhood Schools Act.
(Final Report page 14): "Full Compliment of Services - Many states, cities and communities have developed and implemented models to link schools with a wide range of health, early childhood, extended day, violence prevention and family and community education services. Variously referred to as community schools, full-service schools and family resource centers, these models differ in the scope and variety of services they offer, the ways in which the services are delivered and the arrangements by which they are funded. What they have in common is a belief that schools occupy a position of central importance in communities and, as such, are a logical focal point of bringing together access to the kinds of services, supports, and enrichment activities that both schoolchildren and their families need in order to survive and flourish.
This is particularly true in areas with high concentrations of poverty such as Wilmington. The State has already demonstrated its commitment to school-linked services through the establishment of school-based health centers in high schools.
...common sense and a great deal of anecdotal evidence tell us that students who do not have access to health services, appropriate counseling, and enrichment activities do not enjoyu the sameopportunities to learn as students who have such access.
...Joy Dryfoos concludes that enough is known about these models to warrant replication." [A Look At Community Schools In 1998 - NY: National Center for Schools and Communities, 1998. p.13]
Nancy Willing
FYI - a day late dollar short I guess. Yes, it is a good idea for CSD to help support this health care access site on the eastside.
This was discussed, studied and formally recommended to the State over a decade ago when the Neighborhood Schools Act was determined to likely concentrate poverty in Wilmington's elementary schools, severely weaken the education environment and exacerbate the ethnic achievement gap without some remedy and intervention. You should read the report commissioned by city government in 2000. The State ignored it to the peril of a generation of city children and their now-failing schools.
Models for expanded community services like a health center were cited in the report of the Wilmington Neighborhood Schools Committee published in January 2001 as Wilmington's response to House Bill 300, the Neighborhood Schools Act.
(Final Report page 14): "Full Compliment of Services - Many states, cities and communities have developed and implemented models to link schools with a wide range of health, early childhood, extended day, violence prevention and family and community education services. Variously referred to as community schools, full-service schools and family resource centers, these models differ in the scope and variety of services they offer, the ways in which the services are delivered and the arrangements by which they are funded. What they have in common is a belief that schools occupy a position of central importance in communities and, as such, are a logical focal point of bringing together access to the kinds of services, supports, and enrichment activities that both schoolchildren and their families need in order to survive and flourish.
This is particularly true in areas with high concentrations of poverty such as Wilmington. The State has already demonstrated its commitment to school-linked services through the establishment of school-based health centers in high schools.
...common sense and a great deal of anecdotal evidence tell us that students who do not have access to health services, appropriate counseling, and enrichment activities do not enjoyu the sameopportunities to learn as students who have such access.
...Joy Dryfoos concludes that enough is known about these models to warrant replication." [A Look At Community Schools In 1998 - NY: National Center for Schools and Communities, 1998. p.13]
Nancy Willing
Eliz, maybe people don't like the comment saved system???
I am not sure if this comment made it through so here goes again:
FYI - a day late dollar short I guess. Yes, it is a good idea for CSD to help support this health care access site on the eastside.
This was discussed, studied and formally recommended to the State over a decade ago when the Neighborhood Schools Act was determined to likely concentrate poverty in Wilmington's elementary schools, severely weaken the education environment and exacerbate the ethnic achievement gap without some remedy and intervention. You should read the report commissioned by city government in 2000. The State ignored it to the peril of a generation of city children and their now-failing schools.
Models for expanded community services like a health center were cited in the report of the Wilmington Neighborhood Schools Committee published in January 2001 as Wilmington's response to House Bill 300, the Neighborhood Schools Act.
(Final Report page 14): "Full Compliment of Services - Many states, cities and communities have developed and implemented models to link schools with a wide range of health, early childhood, extended day, violence prevention and family and community education services. Variously referred to as community schools, full-service schools and family resource centers, these models differ in the scope and variety of services they offer, the ways in which the services are delivered and the arrangements by which they are funded. What they have in common is a belief that schools occupy a position of central importance in communities and, as such, are a logical focal point of bringing together access to the kinds of services, supports, and enrichment activities that both schoolchildren and their families need in order to survive and flourish.
This is particularly true in areas with high concentrations of poverty such as Wilmington. The State has already demonstrated its commitment to school-linked services through the establishment of school-based health centers in high schools.
...common sense and a great deal of anecdotal evidence tell us that students who do not have access to health services, appropriate counseling, and enrichment activities do not enjoyu the sameopportunities to learn as students who have such access.
...Joy Dryfoos concludes that enough is known about these models to warrant replication." [A Look At Community Schools In 1998 - NY: National Center for Schools and Communities, 1998. p.13]
Nancy Willing
Nancy, comments come to me in email before they are published because of the sheer amount of spam that I get.
I don't censor comments, but I won't put through ciallis, porn, or scams.
Thanks for commenting,
Elizabeth
John, LOL
I see the merit in helping the community but I just fear the man in Dover.
"We are conflating an offset of utilities against the massive greater good to be done by a medical center on the east side of Wilmington. This is a social justice issue. I am 100% in favor of this GREAT idea!"
come on now don't tell me you're going to start wearing a blue cape :) I'll wear a red one and we'll fight in the name of social justice :) But one thing for sure public schools / buildings belong to the public and in that respect I yield. Let's just hope Markell doesn't mandate school being required to pay for student eyeglasses :)
Nancy are you over here making trouble ???? Calling Hube, come straighten Nancy out :) LOL
How are "health centers" in our high schools funded? Are the school districts funding the space, utilities, maintenance?
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