[S]OUTH BURLINGTON — South Burlington High School students will have access to condoms next year after Principal Patrick Burke endorsed the program.
“This is something I support as principal,” said Burke. “We’re going to follow the Agency of Education’s recommendation.”
In a joint statement in November 2016, the agency and the Vermont Department of Health urged school districts to implement comprehensive sex education and condom distribution programs.
Tom Aloisi, the education agency’s adolescent health program manager, said South Burlington joins Spaulding in Barre as second Vermont high school to have a condom availability procedures in place for next year.
The agency lists eight state schools with condom policies on the books. Harwood Union High School in Duxbury was the first Vermont high school with a school-board approved condom policy.
South Burlington High will provide information to students and families about the availability of condoms under the program, which is designed to prevent sexually transmitted diseases and reduce the number of teen pregnancies.
A state Youth Risk Behavior Survey three years ago found that the decline of teenage birth rates was linked to teens abstaining from sexual activity and using contraception.
The same survey found that fewer South Burlington High School students reported having sex at least once in the last three months than did their counterparts statewide.
Planned Parenthood of Northern New England will provide the condoms to the school free-of-charge for as long as funding is available. The estimated cost of 1,000 prophylactics is $70 if the funds run out.
The South Burlington School Board heard a condom protocol presentation last month from School Board student representative Alexandra Escaja-Heiss and school-peer educators.
“The protocol was written in collaboration with fellow Planned Parenthood Peer educators and edited by ones at South Burlington High School,” Escaja-Heiss said. “The protocol has been reviewed by Mr. Burke and is supported by high school health teachers and nurses.”
Condoms will be kept in a bowl and will be available from school nurses, health-education teachers, athletic trainers and guidance counselors.
Advocates for Sexual Knowledge, peer educators who have completed required training, will also be able to provide condoms to students at a variety of events.
The board did not make the final call on the condom distribution proposal but asked Superintendent David Young to discuss it with Burke.
Chair Elizabeth Fitzgerald said she toured one Chittenden County high school, which she declined to name, where condoms were available.
Board member Martin LaLonde praised the student-led initiative, saying “I think this is a great concept, and I think we should be doing this.”
Board member Steve Wisloski asked the students whether middle school students older than 12 would be permitted to obtain condoms if they were on the high school campus.
Escaja-Heiss said the protocol only referred to the high school and pointed out that those in middle school can get prophylactics at health centers and stores.
Vermont law requires schools to teach comprehensive health education, including sexual development and condom use. The measure also calls for minors above the age of 12 to have access to condoms.
