Catch up on what happened this week in Medford.
Sun Editorial: Should the state implement depression screening for teens?
Backers of Assembly Bill 3926 say the number of kids and teens hospitalized for suicidal thoughts and attempts doubled from 2008 to 2015; some 50 percent of adolescents with depression aren’t diagnosed before adulthood; and as many as two in three don’t get the help they need.
Their ideas to help include implementing annual screening for depression for students in grades seven through 12. A school official, such as a counselor, would ask students a couple of questions. If the results indicate the student might be struggling, his or her parents would be notified. The American Academy of Pediatrics has supported screening kids 12 and older.
What are your thoughts? Should the state implement depression screening for teens? Should it look elsewhere for a solution? Send a letter to the editor with your thoughts to news@medfordsun.com.
Medford council discussed solutions to a request for reserved parking at Cranberry Hall
At this week’s meeting, township council held a discussion regarding a request from Senior Center members to obtain reserved parking at Cranberry Hall.
The request was for a courtesy sign to be placed in the lot in hopes of freeing 10 parking spaces on each side, including the four handicap spaces available there.
The Senior Center members would like those 20 spaces to be available from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, which is the time most of their activities take place.
The full story can be found here.
LRHSD received CAP scholarship and annual safety reports
The CAP Scholarship from the Lenape Regional Foundation provides district students the opportunity to earn college credits while still in high school.
Superintendent Carol Birnbohm explained CAP is a partnership between LRHSD, Rowan College of Burlington County, and Rowan University, where students can earn college credit for high school courses that have been approved by the college as being college eligible. She stated that last year more than 1,300 students earned more than 10,000 college credits in one school year.
President of the Lenape Regional Foundation, Ed O’Malley, presented a check to the foundation for $30,000 to grant more students access to the program.
The full story can be found here.
