SAN LORENZO: High School Receives $400,000 Healthy Start Grant

      The state has awarded San Lorenzo High School a four-year $400,000 Healthy Start grant that will fund "a new center providing basic medical services, mental health counseling and safety awareness training," the Hayward Daily Review reports. "(Such) grants have been mostly awarded to elementary schools ... but for a high school to get the grant, it's like we're breaking new ground," said Colleen Runge, who is helping organize the new center. In addition to the state Department of Education-funded grant, the high school health center will also be funded by several public and private agencies. Runge said that various agencies have promised to contribute $24,000 worth of services for each of the four years. St. Rose Hospital will provide "free or low-cost physical exams" through its mobile clinic and Alameda County will provide a public health nurse, according to Runge. She also said La Familia Counseling Service and La Clinica de La Raza have been contacted to contribute to the center. The Daily Review reports that school administrators are currently planning the center; the first $100,000 will fund architects and contractors and the remaining $300,000 will be used to operate the center for three years. The San Lorenzo school district was awarded another $400,000 Healthy Start grant three years ago "to improve public health at Edendale, Colonial Acres, Hillside and Hesperian elementary schools." Runge said the center will open this fall (Saraspi, 5/25).