Board OKs temporary staffing contracts for nurses and early‑childhood special education

The Ferguson‑Florissant School District Board of Education voted May 28 to approve annual contracts with Roe Health Staffing to provide nurse substitutes and with Emergence Healthcare Staffing to supply early‑childhood special‑education teachers and aides for the 2025–26 school year.

District officials said the contracts are a contingency to cover absences and vacancies while they attempt to stabilize staffing amid budget cuts.

Board discussion focused on how the contracts would work in practice and what coverage would look like when a district nurse is assigned to two buildings. Administration described the Roe Health agreement as a day‑to‑day substitute pool that would be called only when district staff cannot cover a shift; officials said the district currently has 10 school nurses, with two vacancies posted. District Nurse Coordinator Dr. Tate Patterson told the board she manages nurses and would “sub where it is necessary.”

Administrators said budget reductions forced the changes. Presenter Michael Mitchell said the district previously spent in excess of $500,000 this year on agency nurses and that the line for next year’s nurse substitute budget had been cut; he described the current proposal as intended “to ensure coverage for nurses during absences.” Later slides and remarks showed differing budget figures in discussion: Mitchell said a prior staffing line had been reduced from $500,000 to $100,000 as a replacement for costly contracted staffing, and also referenced a $400,000 budget line in packet slides. The board questioned those differences during discussion.

Board members pressed for clarity on how clinics would be staffed on days a nurse was not present, whether classroom aides would administer medication, and whether the district would use 911 for emergencies. Dr. Patterson and Mitchell said clinic aides, office managers and other staff would continue to perform limited first‑aid duties, that some campuses with medically complex students would retain assigned nurses, and that 911 may be used when necessary. Patterson said she had contacted outside partners but that hospitals and clinics were not able to provide nurses for daily school coverage.

Separately, the board approved a contract with Emergence Healthcare Staffing to provide staff for the district’s early‑childhood special‑education (ages 3–5) program. Administration said those purchases are reimbursable through the early‑childhood special‑education grant; staff said Emergence had provided screening and services this year and that the district expects reimbursement through the annual final expenditure report.

The motion to approve the Roe Health contract was moved by Dr. Graves and seconded by Mr. Tyson; the board approved the Roe Health contract (recorded vote: Tyson yes; Graves yes; Mansory yes; Secretary yes; Dr. Martin abstained; Bailey yes; Madam president yes). The Emergence contract passed on voice vote.

Administration said each contract would be evaluated at year‑end for cost effectiveness, health outcomes, and continuity of services, and that findings would be brought back to the board for a continuing‑service decision.

Board members asked administration to return with a clear schedule showing which buildings will have assigned nurses, how substitutes will be deployed, and whether clinic‑aid duties will be expanded or require additional training.

For now, administration described both contracts as contingency measures intended to maintain required services while the district recruits permanent staff and evaluates budget tradeoffs.

The board’s action authorizes the district to use both contractors as described; it does not change the district’s existing policies on medical care in schools or guarantee nurse coverage at every building on every day.