June 25 2012 Montgomery County, Maryland Board of Education Public Comment Testimony of Tom Hearn Regarding the School

Health Services Program Coordinator Good evening, Superintendent Starr and members of the Board, I am Tom Hearn and I am a Whitman High School parent. I wanted to talk with you about an issue related to sports concussions policythe important role of the school health services program coordinator. Six years ago, in 2006, Maryland amended section 7-401 of the Education Article, Annotated Code of Maryland. As amended, section 7-401 requires each county board to designate a school health services program coordinator. A local school board may authorize the county health department to designate the coordinator. It is my understanding that the Board of Education has authorized the county health department to designate the student health services program coordinator for Montgomery County. Under the 2006 amendments, the school health services program coordinator shall: 1. Implement State and local health policies in the public schools; 2. Ensure that public schools adhere to local health services guidelines; and 3. Communicate State and local health policies to the parents and guardians of public school students. The 2006 amendments further require a county board to grant the school health services program coordinator the authority to carry out these statutory powers. The version of section 7-401 listed on the Board of Education website does not include the 2006 amendments. (See attached.) Also, no Board of Education policy appears to reflect the statutory powers given to the school health services program coordinator. More importantly, it does not appear that the school health services program coordinator in Montgomery County has been playing the role intended by the General Assembly and the Governor. Recently, MCPS Staff reached out to Joan Glick, RN, MPH, the school health services program coordinator, and Ulder Tillman, M.D., MPH, the Maryland Health Officer for Montgomery County, to address questions about the annual sports physical form currently used by MCPS staff. It would appear to be consistent with section 7-401 if Ms. Glick and Dr. Tillman also played a role in developing sports concussion policy changes that I have sought, as well as policies to address recent statutory requirements to address heat acclimation issues. Under section 4-701, it would appear to be Ms. Glicks role to communicate the policies on these and other health issues to parents and guardians of public school students. Thank you for listening to me and I would be happy to answer any questions you may have.