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Parent warns district nurse gaps could endanger diabetic student; superintendent pledges to expand nursing coverage
Summary
A parent told the board her child, a Type 1 diabetic, cannot attend school unless there is consistent nurse coverage; the superintendent said the district exceeds state nurse staffing ratios, described current staffing and pledged to post an additional nursing position and pursue cross-training and backfill strategies.
Leah Beckwith, a Plum Borough resident and parent of a Pivick Elementary student, told the board during public comment that she received a notice suggesting there could be days without a nurse in her child's building and said of her son, "He is a type 1 diabetic" and "We cannot send him to school if there is not a nurse there 24 7."
The chair asked listeners to remain for the superintendent's report. The superintendent addressed nursing staffing: noting the state requires one certified school nurse per 1,500 students and saying the district "surpassed what the state expectations are." The superintendent recounted that the district at one point had three certified nurses and two RNs, and said "We now have 5 certified school nurses and 2 RNs. We have 7." He said the district will post an additional position to expand nursing services, pursue cross-training so nurses can cover multiple buildings and plan for backfill when staff are unavailable.
The superintendent acknowledged the use of third-party providers when nurses call off but said the district would prefer to hire another full-time registered nurse rather than rely on substitutes. He urged parents to consult official district channels for accurate information and said administrators met with nurses that day to discuss staffing.
Why this matters: Gaps in on-site nursing can affect students with chronic medical needs; the superintendent's pledge to post an additional position and cross-train staff signals an administrative effort to reduce risk. The district did not announce a specific hiring timeline or guarantee continuous 24/7 coverage for every building.
What happens next: The district plans hiring and continued planning for coverage; parents were invited to contact building staff and central administration for updates.
