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District issues RFP for school nursing services; officials say no cuts planned
Summary
District staff reissued a request for proposals (RFP) for school nursing services to comply with procurement rules; administrators said the RFP is routine, not an effort to cut positions, and outlined a Feb. 7 proposal deadline and Feb. 17–21 interviews.
Fayette County Public Schools has reissued a request for proposals (RFP) for school nursing services as part of routine procurement after the district exceeded the original contract term. District health services coordinator Debbie Bowen briefed the board on the process, timeline and selection committee and emphasized that the RFP is intended to comply with procurement rules — not to reduce the number of nurses.
Why it matters: Nursing services cover daily health needs for students across the district, including medically complex cases. Procurement decisions affect continuity of care, staffing credentials and whether staff are W‑2 employees with benefits.
Process and timeline
- RFP release and timeline: The RFP was released Jan. 7, questions deadline Jan. 24, district responses Jan. 31, proposals due Feb. 7, and vendor interviews scheduled Feb. 17–21. - Selection process: A scoring committee (including a finance director, school principals, teachers, a former board member and risk management staff) will evaluate proposals. Bowen said the interview and scoring committees do not include her; she steps out during deliberations to avoid influencing vendor selection. - Procurement standard: Bowen explained the district is following model procurement and an RFP allows evaluation for best value rather than automatically awarding the lowest bid.
Scope and safeguards
Bowen said the RFP requires full‑time nurse staffing at identified schools and prefers registered nurses (RNs) or nurses with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), though limited use of LPNs has occurred. She said special‑education nursing services are covered under a separate contract and funding stream and will not be affected by this RFP. The district will consider multiple vendors to ensure coverage; the RFP specifies W‑2 employment and benefit expectations for vendor staff where appropriate.
Board questions and clarifications
Board members sought assurances about continuity of care, staffing qualifications and potential impact on existing nurses. Bowen said the district does not intend to cut positions and that the RFP lists every school intended for full‑time coverage. She noted the district studied alternate staffing models previously but cited complexity around salary schedules and licensing as constraints.
Ending
District officials said they will publish selection results publicly after the evaluation and that they will share information requested by the board. The procurement follows state/local model procurement rules and is intended to secure qualified staffing while maintaining continuity of student health services.
