Sean C. Morgan
Of The New Era
District 55 School Board members unanimously opposed a proposal to open a school-based health clinic at Sweet Home High School after members of the public prodded the board to take a position on the clinic, which was already dead in the water for this year.
“I think we’re where we need to be now,” said parent Al Grove. “I think we needed to stop and re-evaluate what we’re getting into. It’s back to square one, which is where it needs to be in the first place.”
The proposed clinic would have operated as a partnership among Samaritan Health Services, Linn County Health Services and School District 55. Last week, Linn County Health backed out of the proposal based on input from a community meeting held on June 22.
Members of the public, including Dave Redick, Tony Ward and Grove, recapped their concerns about school-based health clinics. They were followed later in the meeting by other members of the public.
Foremost among the concerns raised were reproductive services.
Redick explained that a 15-year-old girl could go to the clinic, even if it did not offer contraceptives or abortion services, and receive a referral to a clinic that does offer abortion services. Without notifying parents, she could go to another clinic, possibly even driven by clinic officials, have an abortion and return. Her parents would never know.
“State law permits the distribution of birth control products to children of any age and the referral or procuring of abortion services for any child aged 15 and older, without parental knowledge or consent,” Redick said. “This is in a context where a teenage girl cannot get her ears pierced without a signed statement from a parent or guardian.”
Officials assured the community last month that they had no intention to allow such services on the high school campus and they can be excluded by contract, Redick said, but when asked about the state law, the response was vague.
“I was repeatedly assured by those promoting this clinic at the public hearing that there would be no abortions performed on the campus of Sweet Home High School,” Redick said. “This is one statement that I believe. While I suppose these days anything could happen, it is highly unlikely that someone would place an actual abortion chamber in the middle of a high school campus.
“However, referrals to such places by zealous clinic staffers will be just as dangerous to our teens and just as deadly for the unborn children who will be killed. I understand that the problem of children conceiving children is a difficult issue. Assisting those children in taking the lives of other children is not an acceptable solution.”
Opponents listed a number of other concerns, including finding space with Sweet Home poised for growth, financing the clinic, the late timing of the community meeting, liability, duplication of services and further sidelining parents.
“Given the input from that meeting, it is clear that more information and thoughtful community dialogue is needed,” Linn County Health Services Director Frank Moore said in a statement issued after a June 29 hearing on the issue. He asked that anyone interested contact him at (541) 967-3888.
“We are committed to long-term support to enhance health and behavioral health services for Sweet Home school-aged youth and adolescents,” Moore said.
It is up to the county now to initiate such an idea again, said Ken Roberts, board member. “I think it must be left up to Mr. Moore to sell it to the community. He’ll have to be the one to organize everything.”
Brandy James, a Sweet Home resident, pushed for the board to take a stand on the issue.
“I think most people showed up here expecting to see a vote,” James said. “We heard the county say we’re done for this year. I think we want to see the School Board say we’re done for this year.”
“Had we not come to the public forum, this would be in,” Al Grove said. “I don’t understand why we can’t have a decision as to what our board’s position is on this issue.”
“The county’s not pursuing it any more, so we don’t have anything to vote on,” said board member Scott Proctor. He and other board members did not think they had enough information to vote on it.
“If a town doesn’t want it, what more information do you need to have?” Ward said.
Opponents were critical of board members who said they needed more information.
“We’re here,” said Kathleen Redick. “Nobody is tied up in their closet or not here because we won’t let them come. They had the same opportunity to come to the open meeting and this meeting.”
“Several of you have indicated you aren’t informed enough to make a decision,” Dave Redick said. “Yet I fear you would have.”
“Based on what you have, what’s your position?” Grove asked.
To clarify what he was hearing from the audience, Jason Redick, board member, moved for the board to back out of this for the year until the point Linn County approaches the district again. The board voted 9-0 in favor of Redick’s motion.
Present were Roberts, Don Hopkins, Leena Neuschwander, Mike Reynolds, Proctor, David VanDerlip, Jeff Lynn, Diane Gerson and Jason Redick.