FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. – The Flagler County School Board is weighing whether to add another layer of health protection for student-athletes by mandating electrocardiogram (ECG) screenings, a test used to evaluate heart health.
Board member Dr. Colleen Conklin expressed strong support for the mandate, saying, “I just think we protect everyone if we mandate it.”
However, opinions are divided. During a board workshop on Tuesday, Superintendent Lashakia Moore requested guidance from the board on how to proceed, with a vote expected at the next meeting.
Board Chair Will Furry voiced concerns about mandating the screenings, arguing that parents should make the final decision.
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“Why would we not mandate it?” Dr. Conklin asked.
Furry responded, “Because we’re not the parent, let the parent decide that.”
Furry also highlighted the high voluntary participation rate among student-athletes.
“We have a very high participation rate as it is right now. I believe it’s over 80% who do the screening without any type of mandate,” Furry said.
Vice Chair Khristy Chong acknowledged the potential life-saving benefits of the screenings but emphasized the importance of parental choice.
“Parents have the option to opt out; that’s what I would be supporting. I don’t want to be mandating anything. We don’t want to head down that road,” Chong said.
The board discussed three potential options for the upcoming vote on September 18:
- Keep the current policy but remind parents that ECGs are available for free.
- Mandate one ECG screening over the course of a student-athlete’s four-year high school career.
- Mandate the screening but allow parents to opt-out.
Shawn Sima, impact director for the organization Who We Play For, which raises awareness about heart screenings, urged the community to consider the importance of the decision.
“I feel like parents in Flagler County really need to understand the ramifications of what’s being voted on,” Sima said.
Sima also pointed out that in some countries, mandatory screenings are already in place.
“Other countries require it for all students, and hopefully at some point, the United States will follow to elevate the standard of care for our students and student-athletes,” Sima said.
For now, the decision rests with the Flagler County School Board.
Chong hopes the board will find common ground.
“I hope we’ll be able to meet somewhere in the middle and all agree on something,” she said.
The board will reconvene on Sept. 18 at 6 p.m. to make a final decision.
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