It’s unclear whether Easton Hospital’s new owners will follow through with a plan for a public health clinic at Paxinosa Elementary School.
The clinic is part of a $17 million renovation project underway at the school in Easton’s West Ward. The Easton Area School District is partnering with Easton Hospital to provide the clinic to serve the area’s children and their parents.
But the hospital announced Thursday it’s being sold to Massachusetts-based Steward Health Care LLC in a deal expected to close between April and June.
“We are early in this process (of the sale) and have many things to discuss with Steward Health Care,” said Easton Hospital spokesman Stephen Wilson.
He highlighted the importance of children’s health but stopped short of saying the clinic is still on track.
“I am personally committed to eliminate the barriers to learning,” Wilson added. “Students who try to learn but lack basic needs, safe neighborhoods, positive programming and on-site medical services are at a disadvantage. I will continue to work to reverse that trend and strengthen our children’s future.”
Neighbors panned the proposal initially, taking to social media to oppose the project. They worried about the safety of children due to clinic patients. They worried about germs entering the school.
Most people who spoke at a public meeting concerning the clinic last year were in favor of the plan, though.
Easton Area School District Superintendent John Reinhart has fought for the clinic. If children are chronically ill, they can’t learn. He believes the clinic will be a win-win for the children and the community.
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“It is my sincere hope that the new company will arrive in Easton ready to partner with the school district and others in the community in creating our vision of a school-based, health care facility at the Paxinosa Elementary School,” Reinhart said Friday.
He said he hopes to open the clinic within months of re-opening the school. Paxinosa children are temporarily in extra classroom space at Easton Area Middle School during construction but are supposed to be back at 1221 Northampton St. by September 2017.
The clinic is supposed to provide physical, dental, mental and vision care to children in need, their families and neighbors. Easton Hospital would run it and pay for it.
Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @RudyMillerLV. Find Easton area news on Facebook.
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