Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Health Clinic topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Murphysboro school district approves design work for on-campus clinic with Shawnee Health
Summary
Murphysboro CUSD 186 voted to move forward with design of a school-based health clinic to be housed at Murphysboro Middle School, with the district funding space renovation and Shawnee Health Services expected to supply clinical staff through grant funding.
The Murphysboro CUSD 186 Board of Education voted May 20 to authorize district staff to work with Ryan Dodd to design a health clinic that Shawnee Health Services would operate out of converted space at Murphysboro Middle School.
Board members said the district would provide the renovated space while Shawnee Health would pursue grant funding and supply clinical staff, including a full-time nurse, a full-time nurse practitioner and a full-time receptionist. The clinic would serve current, past and future Murphysboro students (the district’s “Red Devils”), district employees and employees’ dependent children.
The district identified roughly 1,800 square feet in the former technology/ED classroom wing as the proposed site. Presenters said the clinic would ideally occupy between 1,500 and 2,000 square feet—comparable to existing clinics in Marion and at Carbondale High School’s Terrier Care—and would include an exterior entrance and reception area so students from other schools could be buzzed in for appointments.
District staff said the board’s obligation would be to renovate and outfit the space; Shawnee Health would be responsible for staffing and day-to-day clinical operations. Clinic visits would be billed to patients’ insurance or Medicaid at standard office-visit rates, staff said. The district would not receive rent from Shawnee Health under the plan discussed; routine building upkeep such as trash removal and bulb replacement would remain a district responsibility.
Cleaning between patients would be performed by clinic personnel, while the district’s custodial staff would continue scheduled cleaning and any required surface disinfection protocols, the board was told. The presenters said converting existing space is expected to be substantially less expensive than constructing a new standalone facility; earlier, a study that looked at new construction estimated costs “upwards of $700,000,” officials said, but no firm renovation estimate was provided at the meeting.
Board members asked about hours, eligibility and timing. Officials said the clinic would operate during the school day in the school year, accepting both appointments and walk-ins when capacity allows. It would not be an unrestricted community clinic; service would be limited to Murphysboro students, district employees and their dependent children. A potential opening timeline mentioned at the meeting was not earlier than one year from the upcoming fall semester.
After discussion the board voted unanimously to authorize staff to proceed with a design plan. The motion was moved and seconded; Board members voting yes included Board members Wilson, Judy, Bridal, Green, Brown, Evaldi and Beavers.
The board directed staff to return to a future meeting with design plans, cost estimates and a proposed timeline for construction and launch. No final contract with Shawnee Health was approved at the May 20 meeting.
