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Community splits at North Valley town hall over state standards for school‑based health centers
Summary
At a packed North Valley town hall, students, parents, teachers and clinic staff urged the Three Rivers/Josephine County School District to renew contracts for two high‑school clinics while some residents warned that Oregon Health Authority certification standards could require distribution or referrals for contraception and gender‑related services without parental input.
At a town‑hall meeting at North Valley High School, community members and school officials debated whether to renew contracts for two school‑based health centers amid concerns about new Oregon Health Authority (OHA) certification standards.
Student speakers, school staff and clinic employees described the clinics as essential to keeping students healthy and in class. “Without the health clinic here at North Valley, I would not have had these opportunities,” said Abby, a North Valley student who said a petition she collected included more than 300 signatures in support of the clinic. Teacher Karen Gina told the board she sees “at least 2 to 3 students” a day who use the clinic for headaches, anxiety or injuries and said the clinic often serves as students’ primary care provider.
Clinic director Shanna Pugh said the standards in question are the state’s certification guidance and that certification is tied to grant funding. Pugh distinguished “gender‑affirming…
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