Board of Ed Reinstates Nurse at Korn School (Video)

The Region 13 Board of Education voted unanimously Wednesday night to reinstate the nursing position at Korn Elementary School, following public outcry over its decision to reduce the district's nursing staff from six to five, in an effort to cut expenses.

The vote came shortly after a public hearing on the proposed 2011-2012 budget at Coginchaug High School, during which a handful of parents and school nurses voiced opposition to the plan, citing concerns over student safety, including the treatment of allergies and asthma.

"I can't support it," said board member Kerrie Flanagan about the elimination of the nurse, which would have saved the district about $58,000.

"It's just horrifying to think that you can have an emergency that requires such an immediate response and that we wouldn't have someone there," she added.

The public hearing began with school officials laying out the specifics of the budget - including a message from Superintendent Susan Viccaro, who said that cutting a nurse "was not an easy decision to make," but one that was necessary if the board wanted to make significant reductions in expenses.

But once the public began to weigh in, it was clear the plan had little support.

"If your child is injured and bleeding, if your child is choking or can't breathe, if your child has an anaphylaxis alergy reaction, or maybe they're suicidal. You may now have to wait while a nurse is called from another building," Anne Juncadella, a nurse at Strong School, said during the hearing (see video).

Joanne Nytch, a nurse at Memorial School who has been with the district for more than two decades and said she once covered three schools, told the board she was concerned the plan would force school officials without proper experience to provide health care to students.

"Can a principal, an assistant or secretary do our job? No, they cannot. But they can help out and provide support and be there when needed, and they do this very well. But it's not their level of expertise," Nytch said.

Fran Ciarleglio, a parent and substitute nurse in the district, was even more blunt.

"Even cruise ships and casinos have in-house nurses," she said, while adding that she felt the school district was setting itself up for potential lawsuits.

"Please, don't put yourself or the district in position for a liability case that is sure to cost more of one nurse."

Richard Hanley, who was the last to speak, personally thanked the staff at Lyman Elementary after recounting the day his son was injured on the playground.

"He came in off of playground, screaming, bleeding. They wrapped [his finger] up and got him to the hospital as quickly as possible. He had 14 stitches on one side of his finger and five on the other side. We really appreciate the fact that a nurse was available."

A crowd of about 100 residents attended the public hearing, which lasted roughly 90 minutes.

Afterwards, board members reconvened, at which time they voted in favor of reinstating the nurse position.

"I support putting the nursing position back in, but if we're back here again I will take another hard look at it," board member Dr. Joseph Ochterski said.

Board chairman Thomas Hennick followed up Ochterski's comments by telling the board that if the budget were to fail [at referendum] "everything is on the table."

Before adjourning, the board voted to send the $35,011,224 (latest gross figure) budget proposal - an increase of 4.16 percent over the current budget - to a final district meeting on May 2, which will be followed by a referendum on May 3.