Schools ask commissioners to help fund Narcan, full‑time nurse at Stoner Thomas and prevention work
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Summary
School officials asked Commissioners on Aug. 7 to help secure sustainable naloxone supplies (Narcan), formal training and a funded nursing presence at the Stoner Thomas campus that serves three systems.
School leaders used a scheduled agenda item to ask the Board of Commissioners to consider funding and coordination for opioid prevention and post‑overdose response at county schools.
Dr. Jason Slade (Superintendent, Davidson County Schools) said the district is seeking a sustainable, vetted source of non‑prescription naloxone (Narcan) and wants a formal policy, training and procedures so staff can respond safely and consistently. He told the board the district’s Student Health Advisory Committee will vet proposals and that the schools would need training and clear protocols before deploying Narcan in school settings.
Dr. Slade also reported the district approved contracting — paid with federal IDEA/EC funds this school year — for nursing coverage at Stoner Thomas, the shared campus serving three school systems. The district plans contracting of up to $156,000 for nurses across specialized classrooms; a single contracted nurse for Stoner Thomas was estimated at roughly $52,000; hiring a county health‑department employee would run a higher cost (the district estimated ~ $75,000 including benefits). Slade said district trustees approved the one‑year contract to maintain coverage this school year but asked commissioners to consider a fair and sustainable approach going forward because the Stoner Thomas nurse serves students from the county and two municipal school systems.
Commissioners and school staff discussed training, liability and logistics. County staff and the superintendent noted that first responders (SROs, bus supervisors and clinic staff) commonly carry Narcan, and that state “Good Samaritan” protections apply for emergency lifesaving measures; but county and school staff agreed they will need to draft local procedures and waiver/legal language to govern school deployment and to address when nonmedical staff should intervene. Dr. Slade said the district’s Student Health Advisory Committee will meet in September to continue work on an implementation plan and to assess sustainable procurement and training options.
Ending: Commissioners asked staff to coordinate with school leadership and the county health department to identify sustainable procurement and training options, to evaluate costs for a county‑employed nurse versus contracted coverage, and to bring back recommendation(s) in the budget cycle. No appropriation decision was made on Aug. 7.
