B6.03 - Approve the Memorandum of Agreement with the Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA (YMCA) for Sulphur Springs K-8 Health and Wellness Coordinator (Climate and Culture)

Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS) and YMCA have been partners in the Sulphur Springs community for over 12 years.  Furthermore, the YMCA has served as a founding partner of the Sulphur Springs K-8 Community Partnership School and fiscal agent for the University of Central Florida’s (UCF) Center for Community School grant funding since its inception during the 2015/2016 school year.

In order to provide optimal wellness services and to become certified as a Community Partnership School, YMCA will provide $36,000 in funding that will allow HCPS to upgrade the currently funded Registered Nurse (RN) unit at Sulphur Springs K-8 to a full-time, onsite Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN). The average salary with fringe cost of an RN is $63,150 while an average APRN salary with fringe is $74,886.  

The APRN will serve as the Community School Health and Wellness Coordinator in accordance with the Fundamental Practices required by the UCF Center for Community Schools. The Health and Wellness Coordinator will either directly provide and/or coordinate comprehensive wellness services – including medical, dental, vision, and behavioral health – with appropriate providers to ensure timely access and prevent substantial loss to instructional time for all students attending Sulphur Springs K-8.  The Health and Wellness Coordinator will also participate in Community School planning and operation meetings to ensure that wellness supports are fully integrated into the school’s operations and systems of supports for students.

During a needs and assets assessment conducted during the Spring of 2020, 59 percent of parent respondents indicated that their child received preventative health care during the last year. 

According to a 2019 Florida Department of Health Community Health Assessment, the Sulphur Springs community experiences some of the greatest health inequities. The zip code 33604 is in the top 5 for preventable diseases, while 17 percent of residents have no health insurance. The Area Deprivation Index (ADI) score for 33064 is 113.7 exceeding the national average of 100.  The ADI combines 17 indicators of socioeconomic status (e.g. income, education, housing condition) and has been linked to several health outcomes including mortality. 

Hiring a full-time APRN to serve as Sulphur Springs K-8’s Health and Wellness Coordinator will help optimize the health and wellbeing of students as well as improve student attendance. 

During the first three quarters of 2019/2020, 33 percent of elementary students and 38 percent of middle school students at Sulphur Springs K-8 were considered chronically absent (attending school less than 90 percent of the time).  Research indicates that chronic absenteeism is directly correlated with student achievement.  A root cause analysis of attendance concerns points to multiple factors, including health and wellness.

• Students attending Sulphur Springs K-8 School will receive timely access to medical, dental, and behavioral health services without substantial loss to instructional time.
• Sulphur Springs K-8 School will reduce the percentage of student deemed chronically absent.
• The Community Partnership School at Sulphur Springs K-8 will meet UCF standards relating to Comprehensive Wellness Supports.

* Improve Student Achievement

* Recruit, support, and retain a highly effective and diverse workforce

* Demonstrate "best practices" in all aspects of safety: student, employee, visitor, facility, transportation, and health

Approve the Memorandum of Agreement with the YMCA for Sulphur Springs K-8 Health and Wellness Coordinator.

W. Woodland Johnson, General Director, Federal Programs, Title I, woodland.johnson@sdhc.k12.fl.us, (813) 272-4875
Tracye H. Brown, Chief of Climate and Culture, tracye.brown@hcps.net, (813) 272-4879

The average salary with fringe cost of an RN is $63,150 while an average APRN salary with fringe is $74,866.  The district currently funds a RN unit at Sulphur Springs K-8.  Applying the $36,000 from YMCA funding to upgrade the RN unit to an APRN will result in a cost-savings to the district.