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Primary/intermediate nurse Lisa Valentine tells board current nursing levels are unsafe
Summary
At a Valley View Local Board of Education meeting, school nurse Lisa Valentine outlined staffing shortages and student medical needs—counting dozens of students with daily or emergency medication needs—and urged the board to prioritize hiring additional nursing staff before student safety is compromised.
Lisa Valentine, the district’s primary and intermediate school nurse, told the Valley View Local Board of Education that current nursing staffing levels are unsafe and put students at risk.
"The current staffing of nurses in our school district is unsafe," Valentine said during public participation. She gave detailed counts: at the primary/intermediate buildings 16 students receive daily medication, two are diabetic, 13 require medication-through procedures and 17 receive as‑needed medications; at the junior high she said five require daily medication, six need as‑needed medication, 14 have emergency medication needs and six are diabetic, including one who requires constant monitoring.
Valentine described high turnover among substitute nurses and said the district hired an unlicensed aide for 20 hours a week who cannot administer medication or care for diabetic students. "We are facing a ticking time bomb," she said, urging the board to prioritize nursing hires and reconsider budget allocations.
Valentine also said the superintendent has told staff the district lacks funds to hire additional nurses. Board members acknowledged the concern: one member said they had been alerted to the issue and asked administration to provide more detail on what would satisfy staffing needs.
Board members did not take immediate action at the meeting; several expressed interest in further information and follow‑up. The board’s upcoming agenda and personnel processes were mentioned as possible avenues for additional review and budget discussion.
