The Wayl
and Union School District apparently has decided not to renew its contract for a school nurse through Spectrum Health.
According to the “job openings” section on the Allegan Area Schools Association (AAESA), Wayland has posted an opening for school nurse under the heading of student support services.
Wayland secured the services of a nurse from Spectrum n 2013, then at an estimated cost of $72,000, to be be paid for by some of the revenue from the Gun Lake Casino.
The casino spending report released in the fall of 2013 said, “School nurse – A contracted position with Spectrum to address issues relating to student health and to assist with students who require specialized medical attention has been created. The annual cost for this is $72,000.”
The cost earlier this year was estimated at $63,000, but there have been concerns about a reduction in services or staffing through Spectrum Health.
At a school board meeting last winter, Superintendent Norm Taylor, noting the rising costs of the service, said, “I’m not the only superintendent who is concerned about their (Spectrum’s) cost model.”
Board Secretary Toni Ordway asked, “Don’t we have someone more affordable who could fit into that role?”
Defenders of the school nurse program have said she goes above and beyond the call of duty in dealing with dental, hearing, visions and shoes issues.
Another issue about the school nurse program was brought before the board a couple of time by aide Karen Weller. She asked the schools continue the services of the school nurse because aides sometimes are not properly trained in how to administer medical help to students who suffer from chronic conditions such as diabetes.
Weller at a work session told the board she is uncomfortable giving diabetes shots to children because she is not qualified and has not been provided proper training. She said the school nurse’s new hours are about to take effect, so it is important the training service be provided soon.
“I don’t know why I have to be here to beg for training for something I’ve been asked to do,” she said. “This could be a life and death situation. I will refuse to take care of diabetic children without proper training.”
The school district also has posted job openings for a general school aide at Dorr Elementary and for a substitute bus driver.
PHOTO: Angela Smith, a nurse practitioner, was hired as school nurse for Wayland schools through Spectrum Health in February 2013, but the contract between the schools and Spectrum has not been renewed.
The district is in a financial bind just now as it tries to figure our the right combination of personnel and how to balance the budget at the same time. Perhaps Spectrum will release her and not restrict her looking for work with former partner-schools. The problem is that personnel staffing and budget shortfalls is pitting one employee group against another… who gets laid off? Who gets retained? Cancel the Spectrum contract? Maybe save 2-3 classroom aides. Layoff 2-3 classroom aides or a teacher? Maybe hire a school nurse.