Board approves licensed vocational nurse contract and Chef Anne career catalyst agreement

The Santa Rita Union School District Board of Trustees approved two separate agreements Tuesday: a contract to provide a licensed vocational nurse (LVN) for students with complex medical needs, and a worksite agreement enabling staff and external participants to be paid through the Career Catalyst program in partnership with the Chef Anne Foundation. District staff explained the LVN contract will deliver dedicated health services for multiple students requiring intensive daily medical interventions. A staff member presenting Melanie’s item explained the LVN will perform health-care interventions for designated students; the board approved the contract 4–0. Separately, Director of Nutritional Services Chuck Helm discussed a new partnership with the Chef Anne Foundation and a related career-catalyst worksite agreement that allows participating staff or external participants to be paid through the Career Catalyst structure without cost to the district. Helm said the program will begin mid-to-late October and that eight district internal staff and one external participant had signed on during initial orientation. Trustees approved the agreement 4–0. Why it matters: the LVN contract provides legally required medical support for students with intensive health needs; the Chef Anne agreement creates paid culinary career training and staffing capacity through an external funder without adding recurring district payroll costs. Ending: Both contracts were approved unanimously and staff said implementation timelines would be provided to the board as services begin.