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Board approves nursing contract with UnityPoint, trimming some health‑assistant coverage amid budget reductions
Summary
The board approved a renewed contract with UnityPoint Health Corporation that maintains an RN in each building but reduces the number of health assistants by nine, cuts professional development allowances, removes cell‑phone stipends and sets health assistants at 179 days. Administration framed the changes as a fiscal reduction in line with other district budget cuts and emphasized continued 100% RN coverage in buildings.
The Waterloo Community School District board on July 8 approved a contract with UnityPoint Health Corporation to provide school nursing services for the upcoming year, described by administration as an adjustment and continuation of the current contract.
Administration said the revised contract reduces the number of health assistants by nine while maintaining a registered nurse assigned to each building. Professional development time for nurses will be limited to 12 hours per person, the practice of providing cell‑phone stipends for traveling assistants was removed, and health assistants’ workdays were set at 179 days (172 student days plus seven prep days). Summer nursing coverage will be provided as needed.
Superintendent and administrators framed the changes as part of a districtwide effort to reduce general‑fund expenditures, noting the nursing contract reduction aligns with other program cuts (the district cited a roughly 33% reduction to the LIF Labs allotment and other reductions in coaching budgets). Administrators said they were comfortable with the staffing model and emphasized plans to audit and document building needs and to work mutually with UnityPoint to ensure coverage and backup when staff are absent.
Board members expressed regret about losing health‑assistant positions but approved the superintendent’s recommendation.
Next steps: administration and UnityPoint will document staffing and peak‑hour needs and will report back as the school year begins. The board asked for further data to confirm coverage and to audit the adjustments during implementation.
