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District staff: Buncombe County nurse contract continues despite one fewer nurse; board to place contract on consent agenda
Summary
Staff told trustees the Buncombe County Health & Human Services contract for school nurses remains the most cost‑effective option despite a reduction from five to four nurses; the contract will be placed on the consent agenda for next week's meeting.
Heidi and district staff briefed the board on the Buncombe County Health & Human Services school nurse contract. Staff explained the county’s midyear budget cut reduced the county’s line item for school nurses, which in practice reduced district nurse staffing from five nurses last year to four this year. "We did lose one nurse this year, but the contract amount stayed the same," one staff member said, describing the arrangement as a continued contract for nursing services rather than a line‑item transfer.
Board members asked whether the district had an alternative vendor; staff said there is no alternative in front of the board and that contracting with the county remains the best available option. Staff estimated that hiring a nurse directly could cost upwards of $70,000–$80,000 per FTE and described how the district would absorb services through scheduling and on‑call coverage for campuses previously served by a shared nurse.
The chair asked whether the board was prepared to place the contract on next week’s consent agenda; trustees signaled consensus to do so and were invited to submit any remaining questions by email.
