Multnomah ESD applauds passage of SB 698

For Immediate Release

July 28, 2015

Contact: Laura Conroy
503-257-1516
[email protected]
www.mesd.k12.or.us

Multnomah ESD applauds passage of SB 698

The Multnomah ESD welcomed the news that Governor Kate Brown had signed SB 698 into law, and applauded its passage by the Oregon legislature. The bill creates a State School Nursing Consultant position in the Oregon Health Authority and establishes a Task Force on School Nursing.

The passage of the bill is welcome news to MESD School Health Services Director Margo Lalich, who testified about the positive impact of the legislation for districts and students. Lalich explained “The legislation supports the development of critical infrastructure to support school districts in the delivery of school health services to students by school nurses.”

MESD is the largest provider of student health services in the state. It employs over 110 nurses who support 160 schools in 8 component school districts including Portland Public Schools, Gresham-Barlow, David Douglas, Centennial, Reynolds, Parkrose, Corbett, and Riverdale. It serves a student population in excess of 100,000, ages 3-21, which represents approximately 20% of Oregon’s total student population.