But to their credit, those who questioned its necessity and publicly resisted its opening advanced the debate. The issue of the Wellness Center was brought of the forefront and discussed in the open. The result was a clearly-defined set of policies and procedures that the community then could react to. With a 52 percent participation rate, it is obvious many students' families choose not to use the Wellness Center. But then the Wellness Center is not for every student either because many families prefer to have their sons and daughters use whatever medical care access they already provide.
Some students use both.
When the idea of a health clinic inside a public high school was first proposed, some in the community wondered if it would reflect the values and needs in large cities where most school clinics were located. Nothing could have been further from the truth. The Wellness Center was a local idea, developed in conjunction with two local boards and a local advisory committee. It is the very essence of local control. We applaud the efforts of everyone involved in the success of the Wellness Center, encouraging it to stay on its defined path and to deliver quality health care to students at Grand Island Senior High.