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Franklin City Public Schools administrators shared in December that the expansion of Old Dominion University at the J.P. King Jr. Career and Technical Academy will include free health care provisions for FCPS students, their families and division staff. The provisions will include at least physicals, immunizations, sick visits and dental.

At the Franklin City School Board’s Dec. 12 meeting, FCPS Superintendent Dr. Carlton Carter asked Assistant Superintendent of Student Services, Human Resources and Career and Technical Education Dr. Tanieka Ricks to talk about ODU and the expansion.

“We are excited about the expansion of ODU at the academy,” Ricks said. “We have a room set up for them so they’ll be able to provide physicals and other support for our students.

“We’re also going to look at adding a wellness program for staff, so they’re willing to partner with that, so we’ll be able to set up opportunities for staff, students and services for students,” she added. “So it’s a great opportunity, and we’re looking forward to it.”

Then, Carter said, “So slightly after Jan. 6, they will move in, and as I was reading through the memorandum of understanding, every Franklin school child and their family will receive free health care.”

Multiple school board members replied with, “Wow.”

“It really will help with our children, the parents that have trouble with getting to the doctor’s office and things like that,” Ricks said. “And we need the physicals and immunizations.”

At-Large Board Member Dr. Reid Harrison wondered if ODU might have a resource for an athletic trainer as well that could provide treatment for the school division’s student-athletes.

“That’s a good thought,” Carter said.

After the School Board meeting had been adjourned, Paul Kaplan, who was mayor-elect at the time, asked a follow-up question about the ODU health care offering.

“You talked about the Old Dominion room at J.P. King, and you said it’d be open to all the students and their families,” he said. “What will be the level? Is that just for physicals or immunizations or…?”

FCPS administrators replied by listing physicals, immunizations, sick visits and dental.

“That won’t go through insurance or anything, right?” Kaplan asked. “That’s just a provided service?”

“That’s a provided service,” Carter said.

The Tidewater News was provided with the original MOU between Old Dominion University and Franklin City Public Schools that was signed on March 28, 2023, and under the list of things that the memorandum says ODU Community Care will do is the following:

“Provide services and oversee medical (physical) and specialty services in a timely manner including screenings, well child exams, school and sports physicals, acute care, chronic disease management and referrals regardless of insurance coverage as outlined in the SBHC Services policy and procedure. (No student, school employee, or family member will be charged for physical exams).”

Kaplan noted that there are a number of cities and counties around the country with which companies have established partnerships and set up in-house medical services that do not bill through insurance.

“So if you look at Chesterfield County, “he said, “they’re the only one I know of in Virginia, but I know there are others, but they save — it’s a much larger system — literally millions of dollars a year in insurance costs because that doesn’t go against their usage with their health insurance. So I would hope it’s successful enough (that) maybe it could be open to the city (of Franklin), for free to the city.”

Harrison asked if FCPS staff could benefit from what ODU was offering.

Carter said, “Yes, Franklin staff and parents and students.”

Kaplan said, “That can reduce the usage for the school system’s health insurance and bring their rates down significantly, if it’s utilized.”

Carter agreed and indicated he does not think there will be a problem with people utilizing it.

Then, to Kaplan, he said, “I can talk to you offline or we can have a Zoom conference or meet with them and see what they can do as far as the city is concerned.”