By Taylor Boyd
The Patrick County School Board entered into Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with two service region providers to establish a School-Based Health Center to serve students and staff at its December 18 meeting.
Schools Superintendent Dr. Jason Wood said he’s been in contact with Tri-Area Community Health and Connect Health and Wellness for over a year about a school-based health center.
“Several of our surrounding schools have started this. Some of them have been in place for about three or four years, and with the recent closure of our urgent care, we felt this was an opportunity for us to help families and help our staff,” he said.
On December 16, Wood said a committee was formed with members including board Chairman Amy Walker, of the Mayo River District; School Health Advisory Committee member and school board member Rob Martin, of the Dan River District, and himself. The committee then reviewed the proposals it received.
“A school-based health center from a community health provider would actually serve an in-person clinic at Patrick County High School,” he said.
Based on the proposals, Wood said the committee suggests medical and mental health be provided by one provider while some support services, like dental and vision, be provided by the other.
“The proposal that came from that committee would be that Tri-Area Community Health would provide in-person medical care at Patrick County High School. Tri-Area Community Health would do the telehealth medical services, and they would serve every elementary school. They’d also provide mental health services including behavioral health and counseling,” he said.
In addition to providing dental and vision services, Wood said Connect Health would also give referrals to individuals who aren’t staff or students to its Patrick Springs clinic.
“So, it would be maximizing our opportunities by doing a partnership with both,” he said.
Walter Scott, of the Smith River District, asked about costs related to the program.
Wood replied that any cost would be in-kind space for the school system.
“In looking at the needs of our in-person site, we would estimate it would be less than $10,000 of any reconfiguration of our current space. They provide all staff salaries, they provide all equipment,” he said.
Wood noted similar programs are successful in Carroll, Grayson, Galax, and other counties.
Martin said this program just went into effect in Carroll County school with great success.
“It was a tremendous help to their staff members and everything. We don’t have the wages we wish we could give our staff and everything – this is a huge benefit to our staff, to our students, and to our families of students,” he said.
In other matters, the board:
*Before going into executive session, Walker said County Administrator Michael McGuinness was in attendance.
Martin said this was the first meeting he’d been at since he joined the board that the county administrator attended.
*Discussed abandoning a road at the Hardin Reynolds Memorial School.
*Discussed the school system’s health insurance.
*Heard the superintendent’s report.
*Approved the consent agenda.
*Approved the 2026 School Board meeting schedule as presented.
*Approved the 2026-2027 academic calendar as presented.
*Approved the policy updates as presented.
*Approved the personnel report as amended.
*Approved the religious exemptions 2025-2026 11-12.
*Accepted superintendent recommendations for case 2025-2026 revocation.
Lester Harrell, of the Peters Creek District, attended the meeting electronically.
Vice-chairman Shannon Harrell, of the Blue Ridge District, did not attend the meeting.
