Board discusses adding nurses to unencumbered‑time policy; administrators say schedules built to include 30‑minute duty window

The Lexington‑Richland School District Five board on Sept. 8 discussed proposed revisions to the district’s unencumbered‑time policy to explicitly include school nurses and to clarify how their time is scheduled and made up.

Deputy Superintendent Dr. Turner said the purpose of the revision is to incorporate nurses into existing unencumbered‑time language and to clarify expectations for makeup time when nurses are interrupted. He said nurses are nonexempt employees whose daily schedules already include the 30‑minute built‑in period: middle and high‑school nurses are scheduled for eight‑hour shifts with a built‑in half‑hour, and elementary nurses’ schedules are structured similarly so the unencumbered time is available in practice.

The nut graf: Trustees asked how the district would ensure care continuity during those periods — staff said nurses will be available for medical emergencies and that schools will use radios and other standard emergency protocols; nurses will make up interrupted unencumbered time within the workweek per standard practice.

Board members suggested practical signage and communication so students and staff know when the nurse’s office is briefly unavailable. Dr. Turner and Dr. Harris said the district already uses nursing support assistants at some schools and is exploring where additional UAP‑style support might help cover medication and routine duties when nurses are engaged in documentation or unencumbered time.

Ending: The board continued the discussion and asked administration to return with implementation details and any staffing recommendations needed to ensure coverage while protecting nurses’ unencumbered time.