Clinton County Board of Education held its monthly work session last Thursday afternoon with all members on hand and, among items reviewed, heard some positive news about the new Healthy Kids Clinic Partnership program from Superintendent Charlotte Bernard.

The new program, which places nurses in the schools, is capable of providing a lot of medical related services to students who may otherwise have to miss school for a doctor’s appointment, is a partnership that began at the start of the current school year with Cumberland Family Medical Center, Inc.

Clinton County Schools partnered with Cumberland Family Medical Center for the 2015-16 school year to provide quality comprehensive health care to students and staff in the four schools. Two school nurses are employed by the district and leased to CFMC, while CFMC employs one nurse.

Initially the nurse was charged with covering two schools, but mid-way through the year CFMC hired a CNA to be stationed at the high school in hopes of generating more referrals. CFMC also employs a Physician’s Assistant and a nurse that travel together and serve the district on a part-time basis.

The following statistics are listed under the encounter summary from August 1 2015 through February 15, 2016: Flu shots, 303; well-child exams with immunizations, one; school or sports physicals, 52; immunizations, 20; new patients seen, 23; established patients seen, 291. Total physician’s assistant encounters, 690 and total school nurse encounters, 8,417.

While the overall program is running well, the following have been identified as needing improvement:

* Decrease the number of nursing visits at Albany Elementary and Clinton Middle School.

* Increase number of well child exams.

* Increase number of school/sports physicals.

* Potentially relocate the high school nurse’s station for more space and privacy.

* CFMC will provide training to include electronic health records, EMS/CPR, diabetes, nursing protocols and child abuse prevention.

The report by Superintendent Bernard also revealed some positive financial news for the school district, as CFMC noted in the report it will increase the amount contributed for school nurses from 33 percent to 51 percent and once salaries have been agreed upon, they cannot be changed unless agreed upon by both parties.

This current year, Clinton Family Medical paid $24,872 for nurses for the program, as opposed to the school board’s $49,743. In the upcoming 2016-17 year, the school board will fund $36,561 while CFMC will be responsible for $38,054, or a little over half the cost.

In other contract stipulations:

* CFMC will request limited access to health records, summary, and class schedule from each district;

* All school nurses will be required to utilize CFMC’s electronic health records;

* School nurses employed by the district and leased to CFMC will be subject to all of CFMC’s policies and procedures and to progressive disciplinary action;

* District must provide an alternate space for the provider if the nurse’s station doesn’t comply with privacy standards;

* CFMC will request that all nurse’s stations at least have a sink, but preferably both a sink and a restroom facility.

Although the program is deemed successful, Superintendent Bernard and the rest of the board are still concerned that not all parents and students are aware of the program, or the number of services and positive effects it can have.

Apparently there will be more of a public relations campaign coming prior to the next school year to make the public aware of the new Healthy Kids Clinic, how it operates, and the services it offers to students while in school.

Among items on the agenda for the board’s regular business meeting held Monday night was a nurse agreement between the district and CFMC, a document board attorney Lindsey Bell has already reviewed and signed off on.

Also, the board discussed amendments to the current 2015-16 school year calendar, which was to be approved Monday night and more details on the new calendar can be found in an article about the school board beginning on page 1.

During the work session, it was noted the school calendar committee has helped put together the 2016-17 school year. That calendar, which will be publicly released later, shows the first day for students next year will be August 8.

The board also discussed a Bio Medical Science Career Pathway grant which has been applied for and a middle school fundraiser to help purchase more Chromebooks for students.