BELLAIRE — Bellaire School Board of Education held a special meeting Thursday to approve a contract that will allow the district to begin construction of a new health clinic at Bellaire High School.

The board’s attorneys approved the two documents board members voted in favor of at the meeting, including a contract with The Collaborative for architectural services to construct the Bellaire High School Health Clinic and for Superintendent Derrick McAfee to secure bids for construction and renovation of a health clinic at the high school.

The school received a $500,000 grant to construct the new clinic, with work to begin in May. The clinic will have exam rooms, an office, restroom and some closets. A care station and reception desk waiting area will be included in the clinic. The clinic will be staffed by a physician’s assistant.

“This is just basically a rapid eye for our kids as well, so the school giving back to its community that we’ve been passionate about,” McAfee said. “And what we try to do is tear down barriers between the school and the community and make sure the community is a part of what we do, because we have a lot to show off and a lot that we’re proud of.”

The opening date for bids is Feb. 13 with the construction timeline in mid May. The health clinic will be seeing people in February but will operate out of a temporary space the school will designate for it. This project is completely grant funded and is not using taxpayers’ money.

Board members William Marinelli, Jim Laroche, Jason Ayers, Jim Thoburn and Susie Rataiczak voted to approve both the contract with The Collaborative and for McAfee to secure bids for the construction.

The next school board meeting will be at 5 p.m. Feb. 10 at the schools’ administrative office at 340 34th St.