As distressing as it is to hear about the loss of teachers in our schools, we find it even more alarming to consider a district of 3,770 students with only one full-time and one part-time school nurse serving seven different campuses.
The May 15 article in the Review (“Teachers left in a waiting game,”) said, “The district’s nursing program is among those being discussed for downsizing.” It implied that the board is only considering, and has not yet taken, action to reduce the size of the school nurse program. This is not the case.
Because contracts had to be offered by a May 15 deadline, the school board has already had to make a decision about school nursing.
That decision may be altered by the new financial numbers coming from the state once Gov. Gregoire has signed the proposed budget. But we should not assume that those figures will significantly alter the determination that has already been made to cut the school nursing program unless the board hears from its constituents.
The district does intend to supplement the school nurses with para pros who will complete eight hours of first-aid training every two years.
We recognize that school employees are already often stepping in when there is no nurse in the building.
But the idea that a para pro can replace a professional registered nurse is not only unsound, it’s dangerous.
The contractual obligation that the school is required to meet – one nurse for every 2,500 students – is 25 years old and considered by many state and federal agencies to be grossly inadequate.
Federal guidelines from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services set the ratio at 1:750 as the baseline in the general student population.
The CDC supports this standard, as does the National Association of School Nurses, the American Federation of Teachers, the American School Health Association, and our own Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.
In addition to a long list of medical tasks and responsibilities, the school nurse is often on the front line when it comes to kids seeking information, guidance or a confidential conversation about a personal issue.
Someone who is a regular part of students’ daily lives has gained their trust, and who is readily available, is irreplaceable.
We urge you to contact the school board and let the members know that downsizing something as vital as the school nursing program is unacceptably risky. Reducing the program would have consequences for many parents and students, including:
– Parents with a child who is diabetic, asthmatic, has allergies, takes meds at school, plays a sport after school or takes PE during school;
– Or those with a student in the public schools or care about the kids of your friends, relatives, and neighbors in the public schools.
To those in the school nursing program, you have our heartfelt thanks for the work you do every day and our full support.
Cyndy Salisbury, Jillian Worth M.D., Sally Hewett D.D.S., Cathy Knight, Margaret Powers, Wendy Jones RN MSN, Charisa Morre, Christi Neill, Ann Reis Anne Barker, Jennifer Sheldon, Kathy McCarthy
