Community splits at North Valley town hall over state standards for school‑based health centers

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 care,” which she described as respectful, nondiscriminatory treatment required in a clinical setting, from “gender‑affirming treatment” such as hormones or surgery, which she said the school clinics do not provide on‑site. “Gender affirming treatment is the actual treatment… and that we are not required to provide, in the school based health centers,” Pugh said, and added that when specialized services are appropriate the clinic’s role is to make referrals to specialists.

Opponents at the meeting said the OHA document (repeatedly identified by speakers as a 44‑page Standards for Certification, version 5) appears to require more than referrals. One commenter who read sections aloud said the rules “say treatment” and argued the standards could compel the district to facilitate services parents find objectionable. City Council member and retired teacher Victoria Marshall told the board the state’s funding conditions “tie these centers to providing or facilitating abortion, transgender medical interventions, and birth control, often without parental consent,” and urged the district to seek alternative funding if that would avoid the mandates.

Clinic staff and a local clinic CEO countered that the clinics emphasize family involvement, counseling and referrals, and said actual requests for contraceptive services are rare. “Previous year’s audits show… contraceptive questions were significantly less than 1% of our total visits,” said Chris Salinski, who works at the North Valley clinic. Providers also noted that minor‑consent laws in Oregon allow some adolescents to consent to certain types of care and that those laws apply statewide, not only in school clinics.

Several speakers asked whether the district can place local conditions on distribution or require parental consent. Board Chair Pat Kelly said the board supports the current clinics but is “trying to figure out if we can get a waiver on the birth control issue or an alternative.” Providers said they encourage family involvement and that many situations are handled by referral to a student’s primary care provider when ongoing care is needed.

The session included repeated, often emotional exchanges: opponents urged parents to read the OHA standards; supporters — including current and former teachers, parents, students and clinic staff — described the clinics’ role in reducing absences, treating injuries and supporting students with limited access to outside care. Several speakers asked the board to renew the clinic contracts while the district seeks long‑term funding options; others urged the board to protect parental rights and local control.

No formal vote or motion occurred at the town hall. Board members listened and answered questions; Chair Pat Kelly invited attendees to speak with him after the meeting. The district has scheduled another town hall on Wednesday and the board will consider contract renewal at an upcoming board meeting.