By Nick Lien
The Sandusky Community Schools Board of Education met in special session Monday night, engaging in a lengthy discussion about the implementation of a School Wellness Program in partnership with the Sanilac County Health Department and McKenzie Health System.
Last February, the Sandusky school district received grant funding for the creation of the program, but final board approval was needed for it to be implemented. Several community members in the audience expressed concern over the possibility of medical decisions being made for students without parental involvement.
Katie O’Mara of the Sanilac County Health Department assured the board and audience that one of the main goals of the program will be to ensure that parental involvement is key. She also pointed out that the program will not provide any sort of vaccinations, or engage in any sort of reproductive or sexual health care. Additionally, children under the age of 14 will be required to have a waiver signed by parents for them to receive care.
School Board President Carolyn Stoutenberg tabled further action on the program so that board members may further review the details of the contracts. The board plans to further discuss the partnership at their next regular board meeting on January 16th.
In other business, the school board unanimously moved to hire Megan Pearce as the district’s new business manager. Currently the business manager at Capac Schools, Pearce will begin her duties in Sandusky effective January 29th. She replaces outgoing business manager Kendra Messing, who departs the district for the business manager position at Cros-Lex Schools.
