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Board reviews health, dental and telemental-health agreements with community partners
Summary
The board reviewed and moved forward on agreements to continue or expand school-based health services and to contract for telemental-health services from the University of Mississippi School of Education.
District staff presented two related agreements for the board's review: a three-year renewal with Jackson Heights Comprehensive Health Center to provide school-based and mobile health and dental services, and an agreement with the University of Mississippi School of Education to provide telemental-health services to students and staff.
Jackson Heights Comprehensive Health Center. Administration described a three-year renewal for school-based and mobile clinic services, including health and dental care. Staff said additional sites were added in 2023-24, which drove an increase in dental encounters; the district noted that Kirksey Middle School will have a school-based clinic for the 2025-26 school year. Board members asked why certain high schools (Lanier was cited) were not on a list of sites; staff explained some schools have separate agreements with other partners.
University of Mississippi telemental-health services. The administration said the University of Mississippi School of Education and its scholars will provide telemental-health services to students and staff. The board asked questions about scope and whether the services were additional to existing counseling resources.
Why it matters: School-based health and telemental-health programs increase access to medical, dental and behavioral health care for scholars at school, which administrators said can reduce barriers to attendance and learning. Board members highlighted the long-term partnership with Jackson Heights: administration cited thousands of patient visits over recent years and said longevity has built trust with families.
Ending: Board members had no objection to moving the renewals forward for approval; a trustee noted Jackson Heights has been a partner for more than 20 years and praised their work during the pandemic and afterward.
