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Committee approves extra LPN as COVID testing, test‑and‑stay increase workload
Summary
After a COVID dashboard update reporting 16 positives and 52 in‑school close contacts, the committee authorized hiring an additional licensed practical nurse (estimated $25–28/hr) to support testing and contact follow‑up; the motion passed by voice vote.
The school committee received a COVID‑19 operations update and approved adding one licensed practical nurse (LPN) to support testing and close‑contact follow up.
Karen, the district's COVID coordinator, reported that so far this school year the district had 16 positive cases across its buildings and 52 in‑school close contacts. Of those close contacts, 27 were masked and between three and six feet away and therefore were not required to quarantine; 20 opted into the district’s test‑and‑stay program, two positive cases were fully vaccinated and three close contacts chose to quarantine. "We have significantly reduced the number of students that would have to quarantine," Karen said, citing masks, distancing and the test‑and‑stay option.
Because testing and daily contact‑monitoring has increased nursing workload, administration asked the committee to authorize hiring one additional LPN. Officials estimated pay in the $25–$28 per hour range and said, as an example, hiring 7 hours a day at $25/hour for the remaining 174 school days would cost just over $30,000; administrators said they would identify salary‑line savings to cover the hire.
A motion to approve the additional LPN was made by Sarah Williams and seconded by Tim Howell; the committee approved the staffing authorization by voice vote.
What happens next: administration will post the position and attempt to recruit locally, prioritizing prior staff where available, and continue updating the committee and the district COVID dashboard with case and testing data.
