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Board hears administration plan to add nurse and family liaison positions; members press for PEL nurse option
Summary
Administration proposed adding a support-staff nurse and a second full-time family liaison for 2026–27 (estimated combined cost roughly $50,000 plus benefits if the nurse is a support RN). Board member Tammy pressed for hiring a second PEL-certified nurse or hiring candidates open to PEL certification because of special-education demands; administration will consult nursing staff and return with a refined recommendation for the June 16 meeting.
Administration proposed two new support positions for 2026'27: a second support-staff nurse and an additional full-time family liaison to expand outreach and attendance supports.
Administration said the school currently employs one PEL (professional educator license) nurse and one support-staff nurse and that nursing-office traffic has more than doubled this year. Administration estimated the combined cost for the two support positions at approximately $50,000 plus benefits if the new nursing hire is a support RN; the cost would increase if the board directed hiring a second PEL nurse because that classification falls under the teacher contract.
Board member Tammy urged the district to consider hiring a PEL nurse or hiring nurses who are willing to become PEL-certified, citing federal IEP responsibilities and workload associated with special-education meetings. "I am a little disappointed that that position is not another PEL... I think it would be a benefit to us if... either the one that's currently here... would be willing to go back and do that certification process to have that second PEL," Tammy said.
Administration and other board members agreed there is consensus on adding nursing capacity; administration said it would consult with the district nurse (Kathy) and return with a recommendation that could be adjusted to a PEL classification before the June 16 meeting if warranted by staffing availability and certification timelines.
On the family-liaison proposal, administration and outreach staff (Dr. Puo) said the outreach department, created in 2024'25, had expanded engagement and the additional liaison would support family engagement, attendance, McKinney-Vento services and feeder-school collaboration. Administration said the second family-liaison plus the nurse are intended to scale the outreach and health response work the district has seen this year.
Ending: Administration will discuss options with the district nurse and return with a clarified recommendation for the June 16 board meeting; staffing details and projected costs will be provided then.
