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Committee backs adding registered nurses to educator salary adjustment list
Summary
The committee voted unanimously to recommend SB 75, which adds registered school nurses to the list of positions eligible for the educator salary adjustment. Nurses, district leaders and the Utah Education Association testified that inclusion would help recruit and retain nurses who provide health services and instruction in schools.
Senator Musselman presented SB 75 to add "registered nurse" to the statutory list of positions eligible for the educator salary adjustment. Marie Evans, a Weber School District nurse supervisor, told the committee that school nurses provide clinical care, individualized healthcare plans, training for staff and classroom health lessons — work she said is educational and essential to student access. "Registered nurses are educators ... that is why they should be included in the educator salary adjustment," she said.
Committee members asked about starting salary levels and the fiscal note. Testimony indicated many school nurses are placed on teacher salary schedules but do not consistently receive the $10,000 salary adjustment; the fiscal note cited approximately $3.25 million for implementation. Several public commenters, including representatives of the Utah Education Association and district superintendents, urged committee support.
The committee voted to recommend SB 75 favorably to the floor by unanimous voice vote.
