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Schools OK Health Center
by: Thomas Guengerich
For The Mountain Mail
Contact: mountainmaileditor@yahoo.com
SOCORRO – The school board Tuesday voted unanimously to offer reproductive and pregnancy-related services at the new health center at the high school, set to open in November.
Five local residents spoke against the vote. Two people literally applauded the vote.
Before voting, three of the board members said why they would support the inclusion of reproductive services at the new center.
Speaking first, board member Ann Shiells said the issue is mainly about access.
“We are all aiming for the same goal – safe, healthy and productive children,” she said. “We’re talking about broken families, but every family has some degree of broken-ness. Kids from very different kinds of homes will have access.”
Board member Dr. Bob Markwell said he agreed with Shiells and her reasoning.
Board member Tony Ortiz said he, as a parent, has a positive, open relationship with his children.
“But if they can’t come to me, would I want them to visit a place where they can get what they need?” Ortiz asked.
The creation of the new center is part of Gov. Bill Richardson’s initiative, Building a Healthy New Mexico. Richardson wanted to double the number of school-based health centers from 34 to 68. Based on the statewide Youth Risk and Resiliency Survey, Socorro earned the highest level of funding. To date, the school system has received $425,000 to create and staff the center.
While the state mandated and funded the creation of the center, the school board was given the responsibility to determine what services would be offered. Around the state, some school-based health centers offer pregnancy services – counseling, testing, contraceptives and other services – and others do not.
Socorro has traditionally ranked among the top districts for all at-risk factors, including teen-age pregnancy. Along with other programs, like the abstinence program through Socorro General Hospital, the health center aims to help reduce teen-age pregnancy and sexually-transmitted disease.
At the September school board meeting, high school nurse Janet Lucero said she talks to students every day who have a sexually-transmitted disease and others who are pregnant.
Among the opponents at Tuesday’s meeting were Paul Fuierer, Cheryl Montgomerie, Annie Anaya, Doug May and Ashok Ghosh.
Fueirer said he opposed any school-based health center. He said the lesser of two evils would be not offering reproductive services. He said the health center would detract from the school’s main mission – educating children.
May, the pastor at Hope Lutheran Church, said the school board is the wrong government entity to offer health services. He said the City of Socorro ought to study the issue and present a plan.
Montgomerie said students live up to expectations. “Please don’t forget those on the fence,” she said.
Ghosh said he didn’t remember seeing any notices about the committee meetings.
Anaya said each parent should have been contacted about the issue to solicit input, considering the critical nature of the health care for teens.
Lillian Armijo, who spoke against offering reproductive services at the September meeting, was not permitted to speak.
Board president Tony Gonzales said the issue was over and the board had voted.
Armijo said board elections are coming up soon as she left. |
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