School nurses face cutbacks in Mesa

Word of possible cutbacks in nursing positions in the Mesa Unified School District has some parents anxious. "My daughter is sick all the time," said Mesa parent Kimela York. "She could die if no one's there to help her at school."

York is especially concerned because her 12-year-old daughter, TeAnna Carlson, a special-education student at Poston Junior High School, looks fine, with no apparent physical disabilities.

But she's been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and has severe neurological and respiratory issues. She has sudden seizures or stops breathing at times.

"Anyone who doesn't know her background may not be able to give her the right immediate care," York said.

District spokeswoman Kathy Bareiss said potential staff cuts are still being reviewed.

"Many programs are being considered, and the way we staff our health offices is one of those," Bareiss said. "We're looking at a new delivery model for staffing our health office, but we haven't concluded what that might look like."

The Mesa district has nearly 73 nurses across 87 schools. Some schools that are near one another already share a nurse, with one school getting a nurse for three days and the other for two, for instance.

But the district needs to trim about $15 million to $20 million from its budget following a drop of 1,500 students between this year and last. Falling enrollment means the district will receive less state funding.

The district's director of health services, Nadine Miller, directed questions to Bareiss.

"As the superintendency reviews the cuts, the students are foremost in our minds," Bareiss said.

She pointed out that there is already a shortage of nurses in Arizona. Bareiss added public input would be taken before the board votes on the budget. No date has been set for that yet.

Ultimately, the district will base its budget on the amount of state funding available.

"Until the Legislature votes on their budget, we don't know how much we're getting," Bareiss said. "Once we know, after that we'll present our package to the board."

The federal recommendation for a school nurse-to-student ratio is one nurse for every 750 students, but that ratio drops to one nurse per 225 students in special-education populations.

In Arizona, the actual ratio is about one nurse for every 1,170 students.

Cutting nursing positions or sharing them among more than one school "simply doesn't make sense," said Sharon Roland, vice president of the School Nurses Organization of Arizona, which represents the needs of registered nurses in Arizona schools.

Roland said every day, school nurses take care of students with an assortment of health issues, including respiratory illnesses or children with diabetic pumps or some who need insulin injections.

"If you have untrained people and a child has an emergency situation, anything could happen," Roland said. "Then what answer would the schools have for parents?"

Efforts are being made to ensure more nursing staff is available across Arizona schools. Rep. David Lujan, D-Phoenix, has introduced a bill backing one registered nurse for every 750 students statewide.

For now, parents like Paul Culberson, whose daughter McKayla also attends Poston Junior High, said they would be worried knowing their children may not get the care they need in an emergency at school.

"What if she really needs a nurse? Are they going to wait to get someone from the next school?" Culberson asked.

Tony Willis, another Mesa resident, said the last thing he needs is to start worrying about his five children attending Whittier Elementary, Carson Junior High and Westwood High.

"Luckily. I haven't had a bad situation before, but I'd like to know that they'll be well taken care of on the school premises," Willis said.

York said she's so concerned she might even move out of the city if there are any cutbacks.

"I won't have a choice," York said. "My daughter's life is too precious."

Board meeting

What: Mesa Unified School District governing board meeting

When: 7 p.m. tonight

Where: Mesa Public Schools Curriculum Services Center, 549 N. Stapley Drive, Mesa