Student services report: transportation routes, nursing contacts and athletics participation totals

Matt McCormick, executive director of student services, briefed trustees on student administration, transportation, nursing and athletics at the March 13 workshop.

Transportation director Will Hall told trustees the district transports about 13,800 students daily on roughly 760 routes that together travel about 17,250 miles each day. Hall said the district maintains 52 district-owned buses and 190 state buses, and that transportation staff include mechanics and hub supervisors who manage day-to-day route changes. He said the department hires roughly 40 employees annually but that retention is a continuing issue; starting pay was described as competitive in the region.

On nursing and health services, director Amy Wood reported 93,841 student nurse contacts so far this year (medical, medication, illness or treatment contacts). Wood described partnerships that bring dental, vision and vaccination clinics into schools for families who opt in, and she said Medicaid reimbursement work has increased district billing — helping offset nursing-program costs. Trustees asked about vaccination clinics in schools; Wood said clinics are provided when parents opt in and are coordinated with public-health partners.

Athletics director Lee Park summarized participation: 3,761 high-school athletes and 1,552 middle-school athletes, with 211 high-school teams and 108 middle-school teams across the district. Park noted recent additions — girls wrestling and boys lacrosse at Gilbert High School — and celebrated regional championships and one state team championship. Trustees discussed coach and supplement pay schedules and asked for the public supplement schedule; staff said that schedule is available.

McCormick said student administration handles enrollments, truancy and disciplinary processes and that the district has reinvigorated administrator training now that the department is fully staffed.