Clinic Uncertainty Continues in Grant

Board letter to community sparks response from FHC

A decision that stoked the fires of community activism continues to play itself out in our county’s Gateway City.
On Monday the Grant Public School Board issued a letter (link available below) to the community regarding the controversial issue of their recent decision to remove the Child and Adolescent Health Center operated by Family Health Care. It comes on the heels of a move that created a good deal of uncertainty for parents  and a series of meetings that saw an outpouring of community members frustrated by a lack of answers from the Board as to the reasons for the decision.

In the letter, which never mentions Family Health Care by name,  the Board states,”In reviewing the agreement, the district became aware of multiple concerns and chose to step back from the contract so that additional communication could occur.” 

Family Health Care responded  by stating “Family Health Care remains unaware of the concerns noted in the Grant Public Schools Board of Education letter to the community. Despite the letter saying the school board chose to step back from the contract so that additional communication could occur, we have not had any communication that shares what those concerns may be or how they may be addressed.
”Family Health Care is ready to negotiate and willing to find a middle ground to ensure health care services will be available to students in the Grant Public Schools during the upcoming school year.”

The Board’s letter goes on to state “As you may be aware, there has been some speculation around the board’s decision to review the clinical services provided to the district. Please be assured that the board initiated the review because we are committed to providing for the health and safety of every Grant student.
 Our goal is to provide the best possible health care services to the students and families of our community. In our commitment to that goal, we are working to negotiate the contract for clinical services as soon as possible”

The statement from FHC added “As it stands, Family Health Care does not have a contract with Grant Public Schools and has been issued notice to vacate the office space in the middle school on or before October 6, 2023. The Child and Adolescent Health Center will close unless the board of education takes action. 
“With just six weeks until the school year begins, quick action must be taken as Family Health Care can no longer continue to wait as decisions regarding staffing and operations must be made. If the school board cannot make a decision, we will be forced to begin transitioning services out of Grant Public Schools prior to the first day of school in September. While we remain optimistic that an agreement can be reached, the distraction caused by the school board takes the focus away from ensuring children are ready for a healthy school year and places it on the uncertainty of contract negotiations which have yet to begin.”

Community member Megan Wirts helped organize the protest held recently in support of the CAHC.
”I am happy that the community united together to hold the board members accountable that voted to terminate the contract with Family Health Care so that they are now in negotiations," she stated. "If they were just reviewing the contract, it seems odd that they would vote to terminate the contract without doing the research first. I am cautiously optimistic that we will have a good outcome.”

There is an urgency for this matter to be resolved if in-school health services are to continue to be provided at Grant. The past month has revealed  a community that has not wavered in its support for the CAHC, nor in its desire to elicit answers from their school board as to why the initial action was taken.
Should the clinic close its doors through board decision or board inaction the chasm that currently exists between the Board and a large and vocal share of their community will likely  only widen.

 Letter from the Board of Education | Grant Public Schools (grantps.net)