Board approves new 'nurses aid' position after trustees raise certification and safety questions

The Carmel Central School District board on April 21 approved a memorandum of agreement creating a new nurses aid position within the Carmel Office Staff Association to support medically fragile students, but the action drew questions from trustees over required training and medical certification.

Administration said the position was designed to meet students’ daily needs at lower cost than contracting registered nurses, and that training would be provided specific to each student. A trustee countered that some organizations require certified nursing assistants and asked whether the district was creating a title without the certification standards such a role usually implies.

At the vote, at least one trustee opposed the measure and one trustee recorded an abstention, both saying they did not have enough information on the new job’s scope and safeguards; the motion nevertheless carried. One trustee asked administration to provide the full job description (sourced from Putnam County) to the board.

Why it matters: The change shifts certain duties from contracted RNs to a locally employed position and is intended to save district funds. Trustees emphasized their approval authority over position creation but also requested clarity on training requirements and protocols to ensure student safety.

Next steps: Administration committed to circulating the detailed job description and training plan. Trustees asked that personnel‑specific medical details not be disclosed in open session to protect student privacy.