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Board told Buncombe County school nurse contract holds same price but covers fewer nurses; student releases and other MOUs moved toward consent agenda
Summary
District staff told the board the Buncombe County Health and Human Services nurse contract keeps the same dollar amount while the staffing level decreased from five nurses last year to four this year.
District staff updated the Asheville City Schools Board of Education on contracts and memoranda of understanding and said the contract with Buncombe County Health and Human Services for school nurses will be placed on the consent agenda next week.
Heidi, a district finance staff member, told the board this time of year brings the largest list of contracts and MOUs and reminded members that information'only items can be asked about without formal approval. When members asked about the Buncombe County Health and Human Services nurse contract, staff clarified the county treats nurse funding as a separate county line item and that a midyear county funding cut led to a reduction in nursing staff.
"Last year, we did have 5 nurses. We have 4 this year," a staff speaker said. The board was told the contract amount did not change even though nursing staff fell by one person; one nurse previously assigned to William Randolph campus is no longer assigned there and services will be provided "on call" by other nurses.
Board member Sarah asked whether the district purchases services by FTE or by a service plan. Staff answered the district contracts for a service plan rather than a strict FTE count: "The widget we're buying is the service plan." The board discussed that some counties and districts budget school nurses as separate line items and that a nurse hire today could cost "upwards of $70 or $80,000," according to staff.
On student releases (requests to release students to Buncombe County schools), Tanya Precious, a staff member, described an ongoing list for school year 2025'1, and said items without final board approval dates remain for the board's action. Board members said the new report format, which shows a running list for 25'6, helps them track carryover cases; one board member noted "14 children over the past year left our district for dual enrollment in Buncombe County." Tanya said the DAR process (annual documentation and tuition/fee process) runs Feb. 1 to May 31 and that straggler requests carry forward after that deadline.
Board members agreed the Buncombe County nurse contract would be placed on the consent agenda next week. A staff speaker stated there is no alternative established source for nurses and said, "We don't have an alternative source for school nurses, and this is the best deal we're aware of." A board member asked for an update on the August 10'day enrollment count at a later meeting; staff said the 10'day official cutoff occurred the same day and that a fuller analysis will follow.
Board members were also reminded they may email questions about information'only MOUs and contracts to staff for responses outside the meeting.
The board signaled consensus to include the student releases and the contracts on next week's consent agenda.
