Board asked to start program giving students access to condoms

Onteora officials are being asked to establish a program that would allow high school students to obtain condoms through the nurse’s office.

The request was made during a Board of Education meeting last week. Student Tahlula Potter, the 10th-grade vice president, said students could be provided with health information.

“Students would be able to ask for condoms and then the nurse can instruct about use ... and inform about risks,” she said.

“Parents will have the ability to opt out their child (from) this program.”

Officials said the program could be established through the state Department of Education, which

requires that districts have a trained staff member. State recommendations include having condoms available to students as part of a district’s HIV/ AIDS instruction program.

Under the guidelines, districts are to provide “each student receiving

condoms with accurate, complete personal health guidance as to risks of disease that may result from the student’s use/misuse of such product, which takes into account the student’s age.” Districts would also provide information that “describes abstinence as (a) healthy and safe choice for responsible sexual behavior, and the most effective way to prevent HIV/AIDS,

pregnancy, (and) sexually transmitted diseases.”

State requirements would also include working with students of all sexual orientations and have districts use gender-neutral language when discussing relationship management and risk-reduction strategies.

Potter said a survey showed there is support from students in the high school to establish a program.

We received 358 responses to the question of whether our students would like to see this program available in our school,” she said. Student responses had support at 327-31 to participate in the state program. The survey also asked the district Health and Wellness Committee to consider making a recommendation on how it could be implemented.