Comprehending AIDS

School Administrator, March, 1994

Lackawanna High School has established one of the nation's first comprehensive HIV education, counseling, and testing programs in a public school system.

Students and faculty receive HIV education, including information on prevention, throughout the year as well as counseling and HIV testing.

The program guarantees confidentiality of a student's HIV status from school officials, teachers, and other students.

Nellie B. King, Lackawanna's superintendent, and Jennie Bagen of the Erie County Medical Center launched the program early in 1993 as an extension of the state-mandated AIDS education curriculum. Bagen's office is located in the high school's guidance department.