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UI Health Mile Square seeks $300,000 from Rockford Schools to reopen Auburn school‑based health center
Summary
UI Health Mile Square (Miles Square) proposed reopening a federally qualified school‑based health center at Auburn, asking Rockford Public Schools for about half of first‑year operating support (≈$300,000 of a $600,000 projected first‑year cost) and outlining a timeline to open by 2026 if scope approvals and funding align.
UI Health Mile Square representatives told the Rockford Public Schools Committee of the Whole that they want to reopen a federally qualified, community‑accessible health center at Auburn that would offer medical, behavioral‑health and dental services and support workforce development for students.
“We would run about $600,000 to operate that first year, and we would need at least 50% of that to come from an investment from RPS,” said Dr. Kareem Watson, president and CEO of UI Health Mile Square Health Center, during the committee meeting. He said the district’s local contribution would help the clinic ramp to five days a week.
Miles Square officials said their pro forma projects about 2,000 visits in year one, roughly doubling in year two and reaching about 6,000 visits by year three once dental services are included. Ronnie Sturm, Director of Health Services who introduced the Miles Square team, said the organization has experience operating school‑based health centers and emphasized the benefit of integrating pediatric care with the UIC College of Medicine Rockford residency program.
District trustees pressed the group on costs and timing. In response, Miles Square said the federal HRSA scope‑expansion approval process typically takes about 90 days, followed by a 120‑day window to open; the presenters said they would need roughly a six‑month runway to begin operations for the next school year. The group also noted state and federal grant windows (IDPH and HRSA) are periodic and not guaranteed.
Board members raised feasibility questions about capital costs—Miles Square said earlier presentations that included an on‑site dental build‑out nearly doubled capital requirements—and reiterated that the district’s budget constraints will affect any local investment. “That is considerably less than what we were told in the initial presentation, so that sounds much better,” a trustee said after the presenters clarified the distinction between operational and capital estimates.
If the board supports the proposal, Miles Square staff said they can work with district leaders and principals to provide contacts, examples from Chicago sites and additional operational details. The committee did not take formal action at this meeting; Miles Square said it would continue discussions with district staff and pursue grant opportunities to reduce the local contribution requirement.
The district will determine next steps through budget deliberations and potential grant applications; presenters said they aim to be open by the 2026 school year if approvals and funding align.
