Update: Maine School Board Reviews Middle School Contraceptive Plan

October 25, 2007 7:10 p.m. EST

Portland, ME (AHN) - The Portland school board agreed Tuesday on plans to limit student access to contraceptives at King Middle School health center. The Portland School Committee, voting 7 to 2 Wednesday the week before, approved a proposal allowing for distribution of birth control pills and patches to students in grade 6 through 8, ages ranging from 11 to 13 years old.

Chairman John Coynie and member Ben Meiklejohn voted against it. Coynie believed that parents should be the ones responsible for birth control awareness while Meiklejohn argued that the consent form did not specifically state the services offered by the health center.

"If we can figure out the legal issues around this decision, maybe we can come up with something a little more palatable to me and others," Coynie said.

Meiklejohn proposed to give parents the option of blocking their children's access to prescription contraceptives if they register them with the health center. He also suggested to limit contraceptives to students 14 years of age or older.

The committee will decide on his proposal November 7.

Condoms have been available at King Middle School since 2002. Prescription contraceptives are given after a student, with written parental permission, undergoes a physical examination by a doctor or nurse.