Lee County school board approves reorganization that merges physical and mental health oversight; nurses and psychologists press for licensed supervisors

The Lee County School Board voted to approve a set of revised job descriptions and an organizational chart that groups nursing, counseling and psychological services under a single Director of Physical and Mental Health Services, with assistant and senior coordinator positions to support the director. The vote on the pulled agenda item (K4) passed 6–1 after more than an hour of public comment and board discussion.

The change was introduced by Superintendent Carlin as a structural realignment meant to add administrative capacity and “right‑size” the district’s leadership. “The director position is not a one and done,” Superintendent Carlin said, describing the plan as including an assistant director and a senior coordinator to support nursing, counseling and psychology functions. “So I really want to be very crystal clear that we are not saying that the director is over all of that with no support.”

School nurses, school psychologists and counselors testified at the meeting and in advance workshops that the proposed job descriptions do not guarantee that registered nurses or licensed psychologists will supervise clinical nursing or psychological work. “Referring to our department as physical health is frankly insulting,” said Melissa Wallace, a school nurse of more than 13 years. “We are registered nurses with a minimum of bachelor’s degrees and many of us with master’s degrees. Our role extends far beyond the managing of physical health.”

Janine Worthy, a school psychologist, told the board the new job description would, as written, require a school psychologist in the supervisor role and warned that psychologists cannot reasonably supervise nursing practice. “I could not supervise a nurse if my life depended on it, and I don’t know that they could supervise the work that we do either,” Worthy said, urging the board to keep psychological services separate.

Counselor Heather Rodriguez Wibbles also urged caution, saying established supervisors provide critical day‑to‑day oversight and that removing licensed supervision could increase legal and operational risk. “Whenever you’re taking away three experts to place this at one person’s feet, it’s not helpful,” she said, and warned the board that any budget savings could be offset by litigation costs if services are not properly supervised.

Board members sought clarifications during discussion. Board Member Langford Fleming said she wanted more time to review six job descriptions and pressed for reevaluation of the director role for physical and mental health. “Those three units really go into the district. It affects every single one of our children,” she said. Board Member Jordan voted against the package, saying she did not see language that explicitly requires registered nurse oversight and that she could not support the documents as presented. “I will not be voting for these,” Jordan said.

Other board members defended the reorganization as a necessary change after months of review and workshops. Melissa Giovannelli, who spoke in support during the meeting, said the changes were intended to improve outcomes and administrative accountability; several other board members said they had reviewed the job descriptions and were satisfied that the director will be supported by an assistant director and senior coordinator positions.

Superintendent Carlin told the board the job descriptions list required degrees and valid Florida licensure in the relevant fields and that the district expects candidates with appropriate professional credentials. “If there needs to be a nurse, guess what? We’re going to have a nurse. There needs to be a psychologist, we’re going to have a psychologist,” she said.

Votes at a glance: the board adopted the agenda earlier in the meeting (7–0), approved a broad consent agenda that included several administrator appointments (7–0), and approved the revised job descriptions (item K4) by roll call, 6–1, with Board Member Jordan in the lone dissent.

Supporters and critics agreed on one point during the meeting: the issue affects day‑to‑day student care across the district. Nurses and psychologists asked the board to explicitly require licensed supervisors in the job descriptions or to return the items for redrafting; the superintendent and several board members said the district will recruit licensed professionals for the revised roles and monitor the structure’s performance.

The board approved the changes as written and the superintendent will move forward with implementation and candidate recruitment; several board members said they will continue to watch the rollout and expected follow‑up reporting to the board on how the new structure affects school‑level services.

Ending: Board members directed staff and the superintendent to continue outreach and promised additional oversight. Those who opposed the vote said they may renew the request for explicit language tying supervisory roles to specific professional licenses if future implementation raises concerns.