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District Committed To Students' Health

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 11, 2007

Your Oct. 5 editorial left readers with the mistaken impression that the school district has done nothing to address the health needs of our students and the loss of funding for health programs.

The opposite is true. Due to shortfalls in federal and state funding, we have been forced to make changes and to undergo a complete review of our school health services.

At the start of last school year, cutbacks to state and federal dollars left school health services with a deficit of $2.3-million. Faced with the shortfall, we have reduced the number of school health personnel through attrition. As you reported, 68 nurses and health assistants have left the district in the past year. But your characterization that they 'quit the district' is misleading. School employees retire, move out of state or get higher paying jobs locally, on a regular basis. We reduced the numbers through attrition. No one lost their job. With the reduced numbers we have moved the remaining nurses to make sure we meet student needs.

We have to ensure student health and safety. But, as any business or governmental agency experiencing shrinking revenue will tell you, we cannot spend money we do not have. We have a health care professional assigned to every school, and at some schools where student needs demand we have up to four health care professionals. We have moved registered nurses where they are most needed. We have 28 unassigned RN's available to supervise licensed practical nurses and health assistants and to fill in where needed. Additionally, we have four ARNP's and a doctor who oversee the program and monitor student needs. We will hire more health professionals based on critical health needs of our students.

In August, I met with a group of nurses to explain our funding shortfalls and our plans to maintain coverage. I have spoken with individual nurses as well. I am well aware of their concerns and they are aware of our fiscal constraints. Now we will form a workgroup to find solutions.

Lastly, your characterization of health assistants as being 'barely trained' is an insult to the talented and dedicated health assistants who work with our students every day. They get the training and supervision they need, and they do a great job.

MaryEllen Elia is the superintendent of the Hillsborough County School District.

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