Grand Junction — After a request for proposals was executed by School District 51, officials of MarillacHealth learned last night that District 51 selected Marillac as the future provider of a School Based Health Center to be located within the new Grand Junction High School. The new high school is slated to welcome GJHS students in August of 2024.

The project has received broad support from the top leaders of Mesa County’s hospitals, health care organizations, parents, and community members. In the months leading up to this decision, students from three local high schools spoke at multiple School Board meetings, and again in early June, urging approval of the new clinic. Earlier this year, MarillacHealth applied for a planning grant, which has been approved and fully funded by the State of Colorado. Working closely with D51 officials, Marillac plans to open the health center in August 2024, in order to be ready to serve Junction High students, staff, and teachers – a school population of about 1,600 individuals in all.

Kay Ramachandran, Marillac’s Chief Executive Officer, is eager to move forward. “We thank the school board and Superintendent for their due diligence. All of us at Marillac are ready to roll up our sleeves and go to work. We believe in this project wholeheartedly.”