Glenbrook school board advances health center plan
A capital project to create a school health center at Glenbrook South is entering its next steps.
The Glenbrook High Schools District 225 board on Monday voted 6-0 to extend bids for the construction this summer of a health center near Glenbrook South's main entrance, and to send requests for proposal to professional health services to operate it.
Introduced at the board's May 9 meeting, renderings show a 10-room facility, plus restroom, across from Glenbrook South's existing nurse's office.
Expected to come online in late September or early October, the facility was described as a nurse's office with the ability to diagnose illnesses and help deliver proper treatment without students and staff needing to go to a primary care physician or urgent care facility.
The health center would provide required physical exams for freshmen and transfer students, athletic physicals, required immunizations, COVID testing and vaccination, general health exams and supplemental mental health services.
The health center is to be staffed by an outside agency such as NorthShore University Health System, Advocate Lutheran General Hospital or Loyola University Medical Center.
On Monday, District 225 Associate Superintendent R.J. Gravel said, "We proactively reached out to some health partner agencies in the area and they are anxiously awaiting" proposals to be submitted on May 24.
"There's definitely interest in that area," he said.
Proposals for the provider and bids for the construction are expected to come back to the district by June 7. If the board likes what it sees, June 13 is the date set for their approval.
The project is aided by a one-time grant of $250,000 for facilities and equipment expenses through Congress' 2021 Community Project Funding process, supported by U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky and state Sen. Laura Fine. Also, unanticipated FEMA funds for previously submitted COVID expenses will supplement the estimated $590,000 construction cost of the clinic.
Monday's action also authorizes the district to finalize its application for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for the Community Project Funding.
Based on research of health centers at Evanston and Maine East high schools, District 225 estimated ongoing annual operation costs of $445,536 for salaries and benefits, medical supplies and equipment, and medications and lab tests.
Administration will seek grants from the Illinois Department of Public Health, the federal government and community-based organizations to support those costs.
Summarizing, board President Bruce Doughty said the health center is "consistent with our goals of keeping our students healthy and in the best platform possible for being educated."
With parental consent, students could access the facility by appointment, walk-in or on a school nurse's referral. Glenbrook North students could visit the center by shuttle bus, and the district is pursuing telehealth options for students at Glenbrook Off-Campus and the district's transition program.
Part of the idea was just to make it easier for students to get an appointment and receive a treatment plan if they are sick. At the May 9 board meeting, Gravel said about 300 district students lack physicals at the start of the school year, and another 300 start the year without up-to-date immunizations.
Board Superintendent Charles Johns reiterated that there would be no fee structure for students. Staff and administration would use district group health benefits.
Glenbrook South was chosen for initial implementation because summer school will be held at Glenbrook North, which would not mesh with the construction of a health center. If the Glenbrook South facility works out, another may be pursued at Glenbrook North starting in the 2023-24 school year.
"It's largely incremental," Johns said. "As we learn and gain knowledge, we'll make adjustments as necessary."