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Nurses, parents and unions press Washington Township board to clarify cuts to health-assistant hours and contracted behavioral services
Summary
District nurses, parents and union leaders urged the Washington Township School District board to reconsider plans to cut health-assistant hours for 2026–27, citing student safety, staffing uncertainties and reliance on outside behavioral contractors; administration said savings are roughly $120,000 and that some positions were preserved but broader staffing changes are still being finalized.
The Washington Township School District heard emotional public comment from nurses, parents and union leaders on May 26 over planned reductions to health-assistant hours and ongoing use of outside behavioral contractors.
"We respectfully ask the board to reconsider these changes due to the impact this will have on student safety," said Mary Kate, speaking for district school nurses and health assistants, noting that students now present with complex medical and mental-health needs including g-tube feedings, tracheostomy care and insulin pumps. "Without the health-assistance support, nurses must perform these high-stakes procedures while simultaneously managing the general student population."
Parents and staff described how the proposed reduction to a single 3.5-hour health-assistant shift in each building (with two at the high school) could leave nurses covering multiple urgent…
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