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WHEELING - The medical clinic at Madison Elementary School Clinic opened in January, and there were some students who took advantage of the health care opportunity during the second semester of the 2025-2026 school year, according to school officials.
"We had 17 visits from 11 different students," said Leah Stout, special education director for Ohio County Schools. "Our first student was seen in January.
"We also attended family nights and preschool screenings throughout the second half of the year. We were available from 8:30 a.m to 10 a.m. daily. "
Superintendent Kim Miller reports a nurse practitioner was available to examine students for minor illnesses and do throat swabs and ear checks.
"But we spent most of the time working with families to raise awareness of the clinic and its services so parents were fully informed," she said. "We will continue to collaborate with WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital to have their nurse practitioners in the clinic."
The clinic is closed for the summer, but will open again when school resumes in August, according to Miller.
Miller noted that Andrea Trio -the former Madison School principal who is now director of student services for Ohio County Schools - had suggested that having the nurse practitioner at the school first thing in the morning would be most beneficial.
This way the nurse could determine why a student might not be feeling well, if they needed a prescription or if they needed to be sent home because of a fever.
Miller added that there have been fewer absences at the school since the clinic opened.
"People feel appreciative of having medical services on Wheeling Island where they might not have them readily available before," she said. "It has been well received by the community and staff, because certainly it keeps the kids in schools."
A memorandum of understanding between Ohio County Schools and WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital stipulating policy about the providing of care to students at the school initially was approved in November 2024. The ribbon cutting for the completed clinic took place in September of 2025.
Clarification of the policy and other paperwork delayed the opening of the clinic until January 2026.