Alyssa Klein, a Kenmore district parent, told the Board of Education on Sept. 9 that a recent district restructuring of school nursing services has left her daughter and other medically complex students at risk. “The changes that have been put into place are having a direct and daily impact on my daughter,” Klein said during public comment, adding that the district removed clinic aides before ensuring float nurses were hired and placed. “The current situation where the health clinics are operating without an aid and to my knowledge, currently without a floating nurse is not safe.”

Why it matters: Klein said her 8‑year‑old daughter Ava has had Type 1 diabetes for nearly three years and needs vigilant monitoring during the school day. She told the board that, as she understands it, “one nurse to care for about 600 children with various medical needs, with no backup on hand and no aid for support is short sighted and potentially dangerous.” The board heard that the absence of stable clinic staffing is already affecting how emergencies and routine care are managed during the school day.

District response: Superintendent Samara responded in the public meeting with an outline of the district’s revised nursing approach and interim steps. “Our new model is that every office will have two nurses and our complexes will have three, one at each and one that is moving back and forth,” Samara said. He acknowledged ongoing hiring difficulty for nurses and said principals will use temporary aides where necessary until hires are completed. “We will absolutely take that feedback and continue to address it,” he added.

Discussion vs. decision: Klein’s remarks came during the public‑comment portion of the meeting; no board motion or formal vote followed the comment. Superintendent Samara characterized the staffing model as a transition and described immediate temporary measures being used while the district recruits certified nurses. The district did not provide a definitive timeline at the meeting for fully staffing each clinic with the two certified nurses described.

Supporting details and context: At the meeting the superintendent said the district’s research found many regional schools operate with a single nurse and that district leaders sought to shift toward more certified coverage and fewer uncertified clinic aides. Samara said principals and central office staff are making interim adjustments “as a temporary fix while we’re looking to hire,” and that the district’s wages are competitive but nurses remain difficult to find. He also said staff briefings on this issue occurred earlier the same day.

What wasn’t decided: The board did not vote on policy changes or authorize specific hires at the Sept. 9 meeting. The superintendent committed only to continuing to address the concerns and to using temporary aides when necessary; no firm dates or guarantees for rehiring aides or filling all float‑nurse positions were provided at the meeting.

Looking ahead: Parents who raised concerns asked the board to prioritize filling clinic positions and reinstating aides where needed. District leaders said they will continue recruiting and will make adjustments as needed while the new nursing model is implemented.