June 16, 2010

Reacting to the tremendous cuts in education budgets Sequoia Healthcare District in Redwood City has granted $4.5 million to four of its local school districts.

“The schools in our area have been hit really hard and have had to lay off a lot of people who fall into the area of school health,” said Lee Michelson, CEO of the Sequoia Healthcare District. “We had some additional money and thought this would be a great way for the District to help,” he said.

Sequoia has granted $1.5 million annually for three years and has formed a cooperative arrangement called the Healthy Schools Initiative, with four San Mateo County school districts.

The money will help hire back a minimal number of school nurses, licensed vocational nurses, wellness coordinators, health educators, physical education instructors and counselors. And the benefits will be spread over 34 schools covering all age levels, kindergarten trough 12^th grade.

“At our board meeting tonight we’re going to cut $7.8 million from our budget over last year, while at the same time we’re educating 1,000 more students,” said Dennis McBride, President of the Redwood City School District Board of Trustees, in a meeting with Sequoia. “To come here and hear you say you’re going to give us money makes me speechless.” he said.

Michelson explained that Sequoia paid off a large financial obligation last year and now has more money available.

“We’re not the kind to sit on it when there are needs out there,” he said. He added that Sequoia is funded primarily through tax dollars and that the District will appoint a staff member to coordinate the grants to see that they are well spent and are having an impact.

The school districts benefitting from the grants include the San Carlos School District, the Belmont-Redwood Shores School District, the Redwood City School District and the Sequoia High School District.