Parents, nurses and teachers urge Flagstaff Unified to keep full‑time school nurses and raise pay
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Summary
Dozens of parents, nurses and teachers told the Flagstaff Unified School District board they oppose replacing full‑time registered nurses with health aides and urged larger teacher raises, citing students with epilepsy and other medical needs and staff turnover tied to pay and contract changes.
Dozens of parents, staff and teachers urged the Flagstaff Unified School District governing board at its April 14 meeting to preserve full‑time registered nurses in every school and to increase educator pay.
"My daughter has a medication that has to be given within three minutes of her having a seizure," registered nurse Karen Bergstressor told the board. "Unlicensed personnel cannot administer that medication. She has to have a competent, professional there to give her that medication, or she will die." Bergstressor said the district's proposed shift to shared or unlicensed staff would put students with diabetes, epilepsy and other conditions at greater risk.
Several teachers and counselors described how low pay and contract changes are driving experienced staff out of the district. Janine Burchard, a school counselor, said the district has lost staff and "years of experience" as colleagues resigned or retired because of contract changes that reduce months or shift duties without commensurate pay. Math teacher Weston Miller challenged the district's projected raises, saying duty‑pay cuts combined with a small percentage increase can amount to a real pay cut for many teachers.
Multiple speakers, including Christine Lamley and others, cited professional guidance that favors a full‑time registered nurse in each school and warned that a model in which one nurse is shared across sites will fragment care. "Full time registered nurses address complex health needs," a parent and educator said, summarizing the American Academy of Pediatrics' recommendation referenced during public comment.
Board members did not vote on a staffing change at the meeting; several asked for follow‑up information. During later discussion of future agendas, board members requested a timeline and cost estimate showing how nursing staffing decisions have changed since COVID‑19, how much would be required to retain full‑time nurses, and comparisons with neighboring districts.
The public comment period included calls for higher teacher compensation and protections for district programs; speakers framed those requests as responses to statewide funding shortfalls. Christine Fedricks told the board that large losses in Medicaid and SNAP statewide are feeding student needs in the district and urged that "this board cannot fix" systemic underfunding at the state level.
The meeting concluded with board direction to bring back data on nurse funding, the estimated cost to maintain full‑time nursing at schools, and related comparisons with peer districts. The board also noted that some follow‑up items will be scheduled for future meetings so the public can review data and recommendations.
