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Committee approves converting 10 PRN nurse slots into three full-time positions to stabilize school nursing
Summary
The finance committee approved a cost-neutral proposal to convert ten PRN school nurse slots into three full-time nursing positions, citing stability and predictable coverage across paired schools; the plan awaits final board confirmation.
The Ouachita Parish Finance Committee voted to recommend a staffing change that would replace 10 PRN (as-needed) nurse slots with three full-time school nurse positions, a move staff said would be cost neutral and increase stability of coverage across schools.
Regina Mecas described the calculation offered by Mr. Fremont and Ms. Hughes: "For the cost that we normally hire the 10 PRNs, we can hire 3 full time nurses," she said, explaining that pairing decisions would be based on student need and proximity. Mecas said full-time positions would provide benefits such as health insurance and retirement contributions that PRNs currently lack.
Committee members discussed typical staffing ratios across districts and said the proposed approach would not create one-nurse-per-school coverage; rather, full-time nurses would be paired to serve multiple schools according to need. Mr. Geiss and other members expressed that the plan could bring more stability compared with the current heavy reliance on day-to-day subs.
A motion to consider the increase in full-time nursing positions was moved, seconded and approved by the committee with no recorded opposition in the transcript. The board would make the final staffing decision; staff characterized the proposal as cost neutral and subject to annual staffing adjustments based on student medical needs.
