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Toronto schools look to establish health center

TORONTO — The city school board on Thursday heard a presentation by Judy Raveaux from C.H.A.N.G.E. Inc., who discussed the possibility of establishing a school-based health center in the district.

The health center could provide medical, dental and vision services as well as health education and counseling to the district’s students and staff, according to Superintenent Maureen Taggart.

The school district would provide a space for the health center and C.H.A.N.G.E. Inc. would provide the required equipment and staffing.

Services would not be provided to students without their parents’ consent, it was noted. Students and staff would be charged the usual and customary fee for services; however, no student would be denied medical services due to the inability to pay. A sliding fee schedule would be implemented based on the ability of the student’s family to pay, officials said.

“This is could be a great opportunity for our district,” Taggart said. “School-based health centers have been found to increase student attendance, reduce emergency room visits and create a more positive school climate. This would also give our students and staff more immediate and convenient access to medical services.”

In other matters, it was announced the Toronto Red Knights will have a new head football coach, as the school board approved hiring Anthony Hayes.

Hayes was selected from a pool of 25 applicants. He is a teacher in the Harrison Hills City School District and a graduate of Wheeling Jesuit and Salem universities. He has more than 10 years of football coaching experience and has worked as the assistant football coach at Harrison Central High School since 2013.

“We are thrilled to welcome Anthony Hayes to the Red Knight family. He embodies the moral character and ethics that we want our students to emulate. I was most impressed with his understanding of the importance of developing quality young men not just athletes. Coach Hayes’ passion for the game is infectious and inspiring,” Taggart said.

In other business, the board:

¯ Approved the invoice from Squire, Patton and Boggs for legal services rendered for the construction of the elementary wing project/segment 2 and the purchase, sale and lease agreement of the Karaffa Building.

¯ Appointed Coleen Wickham, treasurer, as designated representative to the records commission for the board.

¯ Approved the following supplemental coaches for the 2017-18 school year: Johnathan Durand, senior high assistant baseball; John Parker, senior high volunteer baseball; Matt Karaffa, senior high volunteer baseball; Steve Trifonoff, senior high softball; Michael Burkey, senior high assistant softball; Dee Dee Anderson, senior high assistant softball; Robert Leonard, senior high volunteer softball; Cathie Thomas, senior high volunteer softball; John Stephens, senior high head boys track; Jason Fodle, senior high assistant boys track; Tim Fisher, junior high head boys track; and Bruce Palmer, senior high head girls track.

¯ Approved Josh Franke, senior high assistant football coach.

¯ Approved Hayes as intervention specialist for grades seventh through 12th; and Franke as integrated social studies for grades seventh through 12th.

¯ Approved Kelly Bickerstaff as substitute instructional aide.

¯ Approved Rusty Payne as two-hour bus driver.

¯ Approved Eric Frey and Jacob Haynes as substitute teachers for the remainder of the school year.

¯ Approved new commercial rated vinyl flooring to be installed in five classrooms at Karaffa Elementary at a cost of $20,872.

¯ Approved the following supplemental coaches: Brian Connelly, senior high assistant baseball, 2017-18; and Barb McEndree, senior high assistant volleyball, 2018-29.

¯ Approved Brian Firm as five-and-one-half-hour custodian at Karaffa.

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