Planned Parenthood clinic to open in high school if school board approves deal. Opponent says board members 'should be ashamed' for considering it.

A Planned Parenthood clinic will open in a southern California high school if a local school board approves the deal, Fox News reported.

The Norwalk-LaMirada Unified School District's board will vote during its Monday meeting on allowing Planned Parenthood Los Angeles to open and operate a clinic at John Glenn High School in Norwalk, the cable network said.

What are the details?

Abortions and gender-affirming hormone therapy are not listed among services that would be provided at the clinic, Fox News said. However, the proposal indicates that clinic staff can make referrals to other Planned Parenthoods "for services not offered" at the school's site, the cable network added.

Clinic staff also can write prescriptions and offer pharmaceuticals related to reproductive health — including contraceptives — and can perform insertions of non-surgical long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCS), including intrauterine devices (IUDs), Fox News reported, citing the proposal.

In addition, the proposed agreement states that while the clinic "will encourage students to involve their families in decision making" on reproductive health, minors can get services without parental consent or notification under California law, the cable network added.

The contract would last five years if approved and would require board approval every succeeding five years, Fox News said.

The board 'should be ashamed,' opponent says

"Families and taxpayers should be horrified that the Norwalk-La Mirada USD is considering a partnership with Planned Parenthood," Nicole Neily, president and founder of Parents Defending Education, told Fox News in a statement. "The fact that the contract specifically notes that ‘under California law minors have the right to consent to reproductive health services without parental consent or notification’ is appalling in and of itself — as is the list of services that will be offered to children, from STD treatment to IUDs to ‘referrals to other health centers operated by Provider for services not offered at the Schools.’"

Neily added that "other Planned Parenthood clinics do provide gender-affirming hormone therapy, so there is a very real possibility students will be referred off-campus to receive this treatment — again, with zero parental notification," the cable network said.

She also argued "there is no way for parents to EVER obtain this information, as the contract asserts that all medical records are to be maintained by Planned Parenthood (‘neither District staff nor a Student’s parents or guardians may access the Student’s medical records maintained by Provider without the written approval of the Student.’)," Fox News noted.

"For over 100 years, federal courts have consistently found that parents — and not schools — maintain primary decision-making authority over their children, particularly when it comes to medical care," Neily emphasized, according the cable network. "The Norwalk-La Mirada school board should be ashamed that this contract is even up for consideration — and be mindful of their significant legal exposure should it be ratified."

Fox News said neither the school district nor school board responded to its requests for comment.

Anything else?

The cable network — citing a Planned Parenthood statement — also reported that the organization has been partnering with local schools to "create a safe space" for students to receive reproductive health care and education.

The Los Angeles chapter in 2019 said it was opening 50 new clinics in area high schools to provide "health care services, education, parent resources, and support" to students on campuses, Fox News said, adding that the initial three-year contract reportedly cost Los Angeles County taxpayers $10 million.