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Parents press board over school nursing gaps; district outlines rotating nurses, 911 for emergencies
Summary
Multiple advisory councils and parents raised concerns at the Oct. 7 workshop about reduced school nurse coverage. District officials said they now operate a team of 15 clinical nurses who rotate among schools without a full‑time nurse and that 911 is called for emergencies; officials said they are pursuing partnerships to expand nursing support.
Parents and advisory chairs from several area councils used the Oct. 7 workshop to press the School Board of Broward County for better school nursing coverage, saying some campuses have only occasional nurse visits and that families worry about students with chronic medical needs.
District response: Simone Hollingsworth, chief student services officer, told the board the district maintains 15 clinical nurses who rotate among schools that lack full‑time nurses; each clinical nurse covers about four to six schools on a regular schedule. For emergencies, Hollingsworth said principals and staff call 911 and that nurses assess and coordinate care when available. The district also reported outreach to partners, including Joe DiMaggio (health system), and to the state about additional staffing options.
What parents asked: parents and area chairs said short staffing sometimes results in no nurse coverage on early‑release days and called for stability — either full‑time nurses at more campuses or a clearer plan to support students with high medical needs.
Board follow‑up: trustees asked that the nursing coverage plan be returned during budget workshops so the board can consider priorities in the annual budget process. No formal action was taken at this workshop.
