Superintendent George Arlotto today released the following statement regarding publicly posted comments about the privatization of the county’s school health program:
“For many years, our school system has benefited immensely from the School Health Program run by the Anne Arundel County Department of Health. Under the current leadership of Dr. Jinlene Chan, our students and employees are provided with high-quality, dependable health services that enhance their quality of education and overall quality of life. In addition to the obvious care our school nurses, health assistants, etc., provide, we are privileged to partner with the Department on a wide variety of critical issues such as disease prevention, addiction, and mental health.
“The County has told us it is examining ways to make the program more cost effective. While I appreciate that examination and while final decisions about the program are not ours to make, I am adamantly opposed to any change that reduces the top-notch level of care currently provided to our schools.”