Sumner County Elementary School-Based Public Medical Clinic May Serve Illegal Aliens

Image Credit: Sumner County Schools

Tennessee Conservative News [By Olivia Lupia] –

J.W. Wiseman Elementary School in Portland will soon be home to a school-based medical clinic that will not only serve students but also their families and uninsured members of the public, sparking concerns over student safety and the potential for those additional patient groups to include illegal aliens.

The clinic, which is described as a partnership between Sumner County Schools and Highpoint Health with Ascension Saint Thomas, was officially announced back in March with an anticipated completion date sometime this summer ahead of the 2026-27 school year. Highpoint Health is overseeing and funding construction, staffing, and clinical operations.

“Sumner County Schools and Highpoint Health worked collaboratively to design a clinic model that removes barriers for students, families, and the broader community…the clinic will offer family wellness and pediatric care, including routine check-ups and preventive care, treatment for illnesses and injuries, as well as health screenings and immunizations. In the future, the clinic may offer special screenings such as sports physicals and immunizations for students,” the release reads. 

J.W. Wiseman Elementary was chosen for the clinic’s location as it sits relatively central to eight other schools in the area, making it ideal for access by other students and their families, and the space will be remodeled from a former pre-K classroom. The clinic’s nurse practitioner will also supposedly be mobile, giving them the ability to travel to the other area schools if a student can’t make it into the clinic.

While the general concept may seem like a good idea at first glance, some of the broad language being used to describe the clinic’s anticipated function has created concerns amongst Sumner County residents who believe this approach could open doors to illegal aliens receiving free medical services and allowing unknown individuals onto school grounds around children.

Reportedly, the clinic will have a separate, dedicated entrance with no access to the school itself for family members and uninsured patients who could receive free services. However, a copy of the lease agreement sent by a source to The Tennessee Conservative appears to have very broad terms regarding who may enter, have access to, or use the premises, and specifically states that while the primary intended purpose is stated as “medical office use”, tenants may use the facility for “any lawful use”.

“Tenant shall also have the nonexclusive right to use (a) any common stairways, hallways, access ways, restrooms in the common areas of the Building or other common areas in the Building, (b) any parking areas serving the Building and, (c) any common walkways, sidewalks, parking areas and driveways necessary for access to the Building and parking areas. Tenant shall be permitted to access the Premises and Common Areas 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, 365 days per year,” one section reads.

Another section details that the clinic does not have pay the $19,057.50 per year base rent to the school system so long as it provides the monetary equivalent in free “Charity Care” services to uninsured patients.

The Tennessee Conservative reached out to Sumner County Schools Superintendent Scott Langford with the following questions attempting to confirm exactly who the clinic will serve and the effect on the local community, but received no reply before publication:

Your Facebook post says the clinic will “remove barriers for students, families, and the broader community”. Does this include immigrant children without legal status, and if so, will they be reported to the TN Central Immigration Division? 

Will the clinic be open to adults or general members of the public? If so, will there be protocols in place to monitor who comes into the clinic in relation to student safety as it will be on school grounds? 

Can you also clarify who is paying for the clinic and how it will affect taxes in Sumner County? 

Without any specific confirmation to the contrary, the possibility that the clinic may end up providing free medical care to illegal aliens and inadvertently provide access to adults who should not be around children inside a taxpayer-funded elementary school remains a viable concern.

Olivia Lupia is a political refugee from Colorado who now calls Tennessee home. A proud follower of Christ, she views all political happenings through a Biblical lens and aims to utilize her knowledge and experience to educate and equip others. Olivia is an outspoken conservative who has run for local office, managed campaigns, and been highly involved with state & local GOPs, state legislatures, and other grassroots organizations and movements. Olivia can be reached at olivia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.