When officials at Hamilton Southeastern Schools first discussed the idea of contracting out nursing services in the school buildings to Community Health, the nurses were very opposed to the idea, wanting to remain employees of the school corporation. However, based on a Facebook post Tuesday night by Marianne Lawson Vogt, it would appear an agreement has been reached acceptable to all parties involved.
Ms. Vogt, a nurse working in a school within the HSE Schools district, says in that Facebook post, “We have reached what seems like an acceptable solution to all sides regarding standard of care. Although it seems the school nursing services will be contracted to Community Hospital, it is expected that the contract will allow us (school nurses) to continue to give our students medications with only a few changes from our current status. This is a huge win and what we felt was necessary to maintain the HSE School’s current standard of care.”
The school nurse expressed special thanks to board members Michelle Fullhart and Sylvia Shepler, along with school board candidate Frank Whelan. She also thanked the many members of the local community supporting the nurses.
The nurses working in the school buildings would prefer to remain employees of HSE Schools, but Vogt wrote, “…we are hopeful that it will be good for everyone involved.”
HSE administrators told the school board at the meeting earlier this month that contracting the nursing services to Community Health will save the local schools $4.6 million over four years.
The board was expected to vote on the final language of the Community Health pact at the meeting Wednesday night.