Health Proposal Aims to Protect Kids

Two years ago, the district adopted a health curriculum that included a more comprehensive reproductive health component. This year, the proposed policy to make condoms available to sexually active middle and high school students who ask for them with their parents’ permission is the next small step towards helping improve the health and welfare of the city’s youth. The goal of the proposed policy is to decrease the amount of sexually transmitted infections and pregnancies among our youth (Springfield teens have among the highest rates of chlamydia and gonorrhea compared to their peers across the Commonwealth and the fourth highest teen birth rate in the state).

On March 15th, the School Committee voted 5 to 1 in favor in of a Springfield Public Schools Access to Comprehensive Reproductive Health Policy that would make condoms available to students aged 12 and above who ask the school nurse for one. School nurses would be obligated to advocate for abstinence and thoroughly explain the risks associated with sexual activity before availing a condom to the student. The nurse would also check to see if the student’s parents had directed the school not to make condoms available to their child. Students whose parents “opt-out” of condom availability will not be provided condoms or sexual health counseling.

Though the School Committee voted in favor of the policy earlier this month, a second vote is required per School Committee policy. I fully respect and value the personal opinion that each School Committee member may hold. Certainly, this issue has been controversial. I myself, was hesitant to address it. However, the startling statistics around the sexual health of our youth, for me, was an eye-opener and a call to action. It’s my hope that the Committee will continue to act in the best interest of kids and pass this policy.

Technological Advancements for Professional Development

This week the school district begins training for a new web-based system that will allow staff members to better organize, track and participate in strategically designed Professional Development opportunities.

This new addition to our Professional Development repertoire provides: an online catalog and enrollment system; approval routing of all forms and requests; the instructor and participant application and hiring process; and tracking and printing of certificates of hours completed for professional development.

It is a remarkable replacement for the manually processed blue professional development postings that have traditionally been sent out to the schools.

More than that, this new Professional Development Program, called My Learning Plan, exemplifies the critical role that technology can play as a solution to forming effective collaborations geared directly towards improving student achievement.