School nurse shortage clarified

I am writing this letter in response to what was referred to as a "crisis situation" in The Acorn's article regarding school nurses, or the lack thereof.

One comment stated, "health clerks with minimal first aid training have replaced school nurses." I would just like to point out that schools in the Las Virgenes Unified School District have never had on-site nurses. Los Angeles Unified School District and Malibu schools have nurses but unfortunately, they are only at the school one or two days a week, often for just half of the day. The rest of the week there is not a nurse or health clerk available. Office staff handles all health issues of the students. This is exactly what our district used to do.

When my three children began school in the LVUSD 15 years ago, there wasn't an on-site nurse or health clerk. The librarian and the office staff were responsible for any health issues but in the event of an emergency, parents expected a phone call or a call to 911. The district eventually responded to this chaotic situation by adding full-time health clerks to every school site.

We do have a wonderful, dedicated district RN who oversees all of the health clerks and personally makes sure protocol is followed. Our "minimal training" consists of first aid certification, yearly CPR training, and instruction on epipens for the staff, as well as the health clerks. The health clerks also attend in-services on issues varying from seizures to diabetes and are trained on how to administer glucagon injections.

In the past 12 years, our school has called an ambulance on three occasions. The paramedics were used once for a child with a broken leg. I would hardly describe the care that is given to our students as a "crisis" or "tragedy." I can assure you that we do whatever is needed to make sure our students are "safe and protected."

Finding extra money in the budget for another nurse has been a challenge to the district for years. We could definitely use another nurse. In the meantime, some positive acknowledgement of the proficient care and tireless efforts lovingly given to the kids in this district by the health clerks wouldn't hurt, either. Christina Skillin Calabasas