Last year, when Brogan Kelly was a 17-year-old junior at Seabreeze High School in Volusia County, a starting linebacker on the school’s football team and a wrestler, with plans for college football. He was also among 1,500 students who participated in AdventHealth’s free screenings for student athletes in Flagler and Volusia counties. The screenings include an electrocardiogram, a painless, unintrusive test that analyzes heart health.
The test detected an anomaly in a Brogan’s right coronary artery, which could have led to fatal, sudden cardiac arrest if untreated. After Brogan’s parents followed through with rapid referrals and consultations, Brogan underwent surgery, the anomaly was corrected, and six months later he was back on the field. That year, he was one of 38 students among the 1,500 that took the test in Volusia and Flagler whom AdventHealth determined had some abnormality, five of whom were high risk. The tests enabled the necessary follow-up care.
Physicals are required for student athletes in Florida’s public schools. The free ECG tests are not, though the Florida High School Athletic Association recommends them. AdventHealth, which has a partnership with Flagler schools, now makes them regularly available–usually at one of the two high schools’ campuses–as part of the physicals, which take only a few minutes.
“We can find these underlying heart conditions before children go into heart failure or die. This should be the standard of care yearly for every child that wants to play sports,” a parent told the Flagler County School Board on Tuesday, after describing how her own son Cooper’s congenital heart disease, or CHD, was discovered after an EKG when he was very young. “If Cooper were to walk in here right now, you’d never know by looking at him on the outside. He looks like your average 14-year-old young man. But if he were to take his shirt off, you would immediately see his zipper scar that shows his years and years of bravery. I share the story with you today because if it wasn’t for that doctor ordering that EKG along with the Echo, I’d be telling you a very different story.”
Flagler County School Board member Colleen Conklin thinks such routine tests should be added to local requirements for student athletes. To her, it’s a no-brainer, a mere extension of physicals.
Fellow-School Board member Will Furry disagrees. It should be a parent’s choice, he said at a board workshop on Tuesday.
The School Board discussed the issue for the fourth or fifth time in recent months as the district has been crafting a new policy on student-athlete physicals. The school administration presented four options to the board:
- Option 1: A Cardiology Report Electrocardiogram, or ECG, would be required every year for all high school student athletes participating in competitive sports, with an allowance to opt-out each year.
- Option two: The ECG requirement would apply every two years, with ninth and 11th grade students required to take the test, as well as for any student-athlete participating for the first time, and with an allowance to opt-out.
- Option three: A student athlete would have to take an ECG before participating in his, her or their first athletic program at any point in the four years of high school. But the ECG would be required only once in that four-year window. An opt-out would be allowed.
- Option four: the current approach through AdventHealth’s free screenings. In May, 628 student athletes receive the free physical, but only 506, or 81 percent, took the ECG. While it was a substantial improvement over the previous year, it is still nowhere near full participation.
Tommy Wooleyhan, the district’s school safety specialist, relaying the feeling of coaches, said the fourth option is favored. Board member Christy Chong likes the third option–recommending it once during the four years, but still not as a mandate. Like Furry, she wants that to be up to a parent.
“I would be fine with supporting it one time,” Conklin said. “I think we should make it mandatory.” She mentioned the case of a mother who by chance may have opted out but “blew it off” in the end–and AdventHealth alerted her that her child, a student in Flagler County, had a heart issue. “I just think we protect everyone if we mandate it, and there’s plenty of time to get it done. But it really, literally could save a child’s life. I am struggling with understanding why we wouldn’t mandate it. I don’t see the religious reason behind not mandating it.”
To Furry, it’s black and white. “I encourage every parent to take advantage of the screening that is provided on campus with our partnership with AdventHealth,” he said. “But I promised voters that I would not vote for a mandate down here at the local level.” Furry appeared to be mixing his mandates: the ECG screenings began long after the Covid pandemic had subsided, as had the ideological drumbeat against mask and vaccine mandates. His opposition to mandates was selective: he does not oppose the physicals student athletes must comply with before playing, which are a mandate. The distinction he makes is that if the state doesn’t mandate it, the district should not.
“We’re not the parent. Let the parent decide that,” Furry said. “It’s a slippery slope, when you start putting mandates here at the local level that are not handed down by the state.” He did not explain the slippery slope other than to claim that a subsequent board could place “more restrictive” policies in place. (The ECG requirement would not be a restriction–it is not even comparable to masks, which were said to hinder a child’s breathing–but a precaution. The test itself is a few minutes long.)
“We are charged to make those kinds of mandates on a local level, and ultimately we are financially also responsible for this district. It puts a major liability in our hands,” Conklin said, dismissing the contention that waivers protect the district. “If you think that there’s any kid’s parent whose child dropped dead on a field did not sue that school district, I don’t care what kind of waiver they signed, it’s irrelevant.”
“They likely would sue us either way then, based on that logic” Furry said.
“If you mandate it, you are protecting the children on the field, period,” Conklin said. “If parents want to choose not to get the EKG then their children can’t play sports in Flagler County. It’s a not just a health issue, but a liability issue.”
But the board, as so often on notable issue, was split over the mandate, with Conklin and Board member Cheryl Massaro on one side, and Furry, Chong and Sally Hunt on the other. The board is expected to vote on the policy on Sept. 18.
Chong Furry and whats her name All Stink says
This should be up to the parents!! Working hearts do NOT matter – you see we’re all told that because that’s what big pharma wants you to think. Read up about it people! And, does this thing have an owners manual??? If so I want it BANNED from my kids libraries – any they may even walk past if they so choose to.
GIVE ME LIBERTY or GIVE ME DEATH darn it!
DP says
It’s worth every life possibly saved. It should be mandatory, and at no cost to the parents. One life saved is better them 1 lost. Furry, Chong, Hunt should not be on the board, as they think with thier asses. Done with the stupidity of those three monkeys. The next board is going too be a joke after this November’s election. God help us.
Robjr says
Ok, leave it up to the parents.
If the parents decline then the student does not participate!!!!!!
Problem solved.
JimboXYZ says
Easy enough solution, make it mandatory for athletes (students that either intend on participating in a tryout, making or failing to make a roster cut) Rather than provide it by schools on campus, require parents to obtain & provide the physical & it’s findings thru their own family physician & healthcare insurance separate from wasting a day or few of school for Advent to get some kind of mass deal on campus for every student that won’t ever play a sport at the HS individual & team level athlete. The delineation would be where the student intends to become an official representative of the school as part of the team. When anyone seeks a surgical procedure they are going thru that ECG/EKG for that. The rigors of training for HS sports is well beyond any single requirement of a class period that any child/student ever had to take for PE 101 as getting exercise K-12. This would separate the nerds from the jocks for needing a physical.
Nancy N. says
Proving once again Jimbo that you don’t know what you’re talking about…No one is suggesting that it should be offered to all students. This discussion, and the Advent free program offering it, is solely for student athletes. The question is whether it should continue to be optional or should be mandatory for them.
Kendall says
Chong should lose her nursing license for this.
And Furry continues to be a moron.
And Hunt- where’s Waldo?
The dude says
It’s a “slippery slope” all right…
If they were to mandate this and it saved 1 childs life, then they’d have to save all the kids lives… and that would be horrible.
Carly says
Who pays for the EKG ?
FlaglerLive says
AdventHealth provides the service to student athletes at no cost.
Kat says
I’m shaking my head, what parent wouldn’t want their child screened for a potentially fatal condition? Especially when the test is free, only takes a few minutes, is noninvasive, and painless. To the board members who oppose this being a mandate, what are we protecting here? The freedom to die a preventable death?
Nephew Of Uncle Sam says
“…what parent wouldn’t want their child screened…”
The same parents who won’t get their kids vaccinated.
Joe D says
As a Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist, and a Certified Nurse Case Manager, I have an
OPTION 5:
Make the ECG/EKG optional under the REQUIREMENT the parents sign a WAIVER holding the School System, the County, Coaches, teachers and the School Board “HARMLESS” ( not responsible) for any Cardiac event resulting in a disability/hospitalization/ or DEATH of the student athlete.
Sounds extreme, but if parents are not concerned enough about their student’s health to accept a FREE (painless/non-invasive/10-15 min) procedure with ZERO risk, then at least the School District and related groups should not be held liable for any MEDICAL EVENT which the EKG could have prevented…..How’s THAT for PARENTAL CHOICE!?!
I’m SORRY if my SARCASM also seems extreme, but in this situation, the parents should be given the option of the test, signing the SCHOOL liability waiver, or their student not participating in the sports activity…..because you know for 100% CERTAIN, that the family will hold the School System financially accountable for an event, even if THEY chose to OPT OUT of the testing.
I’m all for PARENTAL RIGHTS, but this is RIDICULOUS!
Nancy N. says
A waiver doesn’t protect other kids (and adults) from the trauma of witnessing their teammate collapse and die during practice or a game.
Celia Pugliese says
Once more the 3 damaging stooges at work. Thank you Collen for the initiative, further protects youngsters lives.
Flatsflyer says
Maybe the requirement should be for all School Board members receive these tests. It’s obivious to all, that 3 members are brain dead.
Mothersworry says
It will take a proctologist to perform any test on these three clowns.
Marek says
And I would include DeSantis !
Dennis says
Wow. Why wouldn’t every parent want to protect their children? It’s easy, painless, and tells a great story.
Jim says
I really don’t see why Furry, Chong and Hunt have any issue with this at all.
“Option 1: A Cardiology Report Electrocardiogram, or ECG, would be required every year for all high school student athletes participating in competitive sports, with an allowance to opt-out each year.”
If you are on your high horse about “parent’s rights”, what is wrong with this option? If clearly allows and “opt out” option every year.
Frankly, I don’t see what use this school board is to the community. I would think they would be looking at what is best for the children in the public school system on all items brought before the school board. But that’s just not what this bunch is interested in. We’ve had two years of vendettas and pettiness from three morons. And I expect it to get worse. A school system ranked as a “B” for years is not a priority. There is no concern with the $10M in funding that is going to “private schools” and “home schoolers” instead of the public school system.
I’ve told my son not to think of moving to Florida and putting his son in school here. I’d like to see him get a good education somewhere else that is dedicated to making schools the best they can be, allowing books that challenge their minds and let’s teachers teach with much less fear of losing their jobs if they deviate at all from the doctrine.
Tired of it says
The three stooges strike again. Why is Hunt still on the board if she is living in Georgia?
Nancy N. says
Once again the “pro-life” MAGA folks prove that they only care about kids before they’re born. After you’re born….”no new mandates” is more important than saving your life (and saving your friends the trauma of watching you die in front of them). You’re a disposable sacrifice on the alter of a political talking point.
Stephen says
Why would a school board member not want to look out for Flagler students. Isn’t that what they were elected for?
Ugh. Not Again. says
As board members that have a fiduciary responsibility to the community to mitigate risk. Clearly they are not mitigating risk of student injury or death.
Samuel says
A free EKG and two on the Board are opposing it. This is when people elect individuals that have no business being on a school board.
Clean the School Board Out! says
If I, as a parent, give my minor child permission to play sports, especially something as strenuous as football or anything involving a lot of aerobic exertion like long-distance running, then IMO by proxy I am allowing whatever measures are necessary to ensure the protection of my child’s physical well-being while under the supervision of the school staff.
These three ass clowns have done absolutely NOTHING good for our children since slithering onto the Board. WTH is wrong with the three of you?! I am not only a parent but was a high school coach a couple of decades or so ago and would have done anything to make sure my athletes were safe to participate.
I am so glad my kids are grown and not subjected to this archaic, BS backwards school board! And EKG is not invasive and could save your child’s life you buffoons!
Jack Howell says
This is a good picture of the Three Stooges of Flagler County. Their comments about the free EKG for student-athlete issue show an abundance of ignorance on their behalf. Two things come to mind. One is the welfare of the student-athlete, which should be paramount! The other is about school board liability and the death of a student-athlete. Are you Three Stooges having a mental issue? I think your priorities are askew! You people are an embarrassment to education and our community. Pityful!
Endangered species says
Ha like the republicans care if it saves a kid. Remember child tax credits, education, wage increases, healthcare, Medicare expansion, climate change, food assistance programs…. Yeah GoP sabotaged all of them and many many more. They care about profits for their corporate overlords that is all.
Dee says
There they go again the three of them stick together like glue they don’t care about are children can’t wait for there term to be up so we can vote out
Vote Them Both OUT says
Those two (Hunt and Chong) are the absolute worst. Newsflash to these women of privilege—an EKG and other heart tests are not free. Providing an EKG for free as a part of the player’s physical can save a life. Why don’t they want to save a life? These two don’t care about the kids. They care about power and pushing their agenda. Vote them out they are the least deserving of any elected official in Flagler County.
Chris Conklin says
what a joke the 3 are. they are so useless. if they are not voted out then people need to stop bitching good luck to the students when Colleen conklin is no longer there. the 3 are an embarrassing mess
Craig Cavaliere says
I cannot understand why this wouldn’t be mandated. I am forever grateful the free ECG was offered because my son had an ECG done prior to entering 6th grade in case he possibly played sports at ITMS. We received a notice that he had an abnormality which was confirmed with further testing. He has type 1 Long QT Syndrome, a potentially lethal condition. It is gentic which we didn’t know because doctors do not test for it.
It is enough of a condition that he cannot participate in PE because the nearest AED machine may not be close enough to be able to respond in time. We have to be careful with which medications he takes. Being in the pool is a lethal condition. He could have died in elementary school while running on the track. In fact, there were times at elementary running club he complained of dizziness which we brushed off as laziness. It could have been that or it could have been his heart. If we had pushed him, it could have killed him. Fortunately, some community members raised money to purchase us an AED machine so he can participate in some activities.
(Insurance repeatedly denied our requests despite experts saying it should be carried around like an inhaler for an asthmatic.)
Please reconsider your position and mandate this instead of potentially attending a funeral.
Laurel says
Craig Cavaliere: Thank goodness you were able to get the information you needed to keep your child safe! You are fortunate, and your child is fortunate to have such parents.
This isn’t about children to these three, and the far right, it’s about mandates. The no mandate crowd doesn’t give a hoot that the insurance lobbyists made wearing a seat belt a mandate for adults. We are mandated to stop at red lights. As kids, we were mandated to take the polio vaccine in school…thank goodness (again). It’s just far right foolishness that is red meat to the certain masses, no real truths or evidences necessary. Just raise that fist and carry on, little thought required.
Mothersworry says
This is what you get voting for trumpers!
p says
This is classic buffoonery on the school board level.
Chong is an ARNP. Why is she opposed to a free EKG screening?
BillC says
WOW! MAGA dogma supersedes common sense to the detriment of student health. Totally brainwashed thought process exposes the inability of these three to put politics aside and act for the common good. They need to go!
Foresee says
The real question is “why would any parent NOT want their child to be medically screened to potentially save their life before engaging in a sport?” Chong, Furry and Hunt are irrational obstructionists who don’t belong on the school board.
Jane K says
When are we getting rid of these 3 stooges?
Lynne says
Why is our excellent health care system not doing this? It used to be that school physicals w looked upon as a quick check up, not a “real” medical check up. When you can buy a ECG the size of credit card and do a professional ECG, why is this not routinely done at the pediatrician?
Clean the School Board Out! says
And in today’s news, an 18-year-old high school player died on the field last night up in Port St. Joe’s. EMT’s got his pulse back on the field but he died at a local hospital. Was it his heart? We don’t know, but if so, it could have been prevented by a simple non-invasive procedure in advance. WHY take chances? WHY fight something that could save a young life?
The Three Stooges on the Board have nothing but self-serving motives. Get rid of them!