Retain Full Time Nurses in Every FUSD School
Retain Full Time Nurses in Every FUSD School
The Issue
A petition to the Flagstaff Unified School District school board to retain a full-time registered nurse in every elementary school.
Why this petition matters
FUSD leadership made the decision to eliminate four elementary school nurse positions in a closed-door meeting without input from nurses, families or the community. The decision would replace registered nurses at half of its elementary schools with unlicensed assistive personnel who would be supervised and assisted by the remaining registered nurses.
School nurses' training, experience, and when appropriate, medication administration make all the difference when emergencies happen. That first seizure, that serious allergic reaction, that bad injury on the playground all go from terrible to catastrophic without a registered nurse nearby. This is not the time to spread an already sparse team across more sites and leave thousands of children without access to the care they need to stay safe. The American Academy of Pediatrics agrees. They advocate for at least one full-time nurse every school.
Beyond emergencies, registered nurses play a critical role in mental health screenings, supporting behavioral health, administering medications, managing acute injuries, and handling specialized medical care like asthma and diabetes. They are the safety net for under-resourced communities and are often the first line of care for children who need it most. School nurses keep kids in school and out of the hospital.
Study after study shows that nurses keep kids in school an extra half day per year per kid. At each elementary school, half of the nurse’s salary simply comes from the improved average daily attendance rate for the district. School nurses also keep teachers in their classrooms and parents at their jobs. This is why each dollar invested in school nursing yields twice that in economic benefits to the communities they serve.
The district made a rushed decision that lacked forethought, input from families, and transparency. We are asking the school board to hear the concerns of parents and retain a full time nurse in every school.
571
The Issue
A petition to the Flagstaff Unified School District school board to retain a full-time registered nurse in every elementary school.
Why this petition matters
FUSD leadership made the decision to eliminate four elementary school nurse positions in a closed-door meeting without input from nurses, families or the community. The decision would replace registered nurses at half of its elementary schools with unlicensed assistive personnel who would be supervised and assisted by the remaining registered nurses.
School nurses' training, experience, and when appropriate, medication administration make all the difference when emergencies happen. That first seizure, that serious allergic reaction, that bad injury on the playground all go from terrible to catastrophic without a registered nurse nearby. This is not the time to spread an already sparse team across more sites and leave thousands of children without access to the care they need to stay safe. The American Academy of Pediatrics agrees. They advocate for at least one full-time nurse every school.
Beyond emergencies, registered nurses play a critical role in mental health screenings, supporting behavioral health, administering medications, managing acute injuries, and handling specialized medical care like asthma and diabetes. They are the safety net for under-resourced communities and are often the first line of care for children who need it most. School nurses keep kids in school and out of the hospital.
Study after study shows that nurses keep kids in school an extra half day per year per kid. At each elementary school, half of the nurse’s salary simply comes from the improved average daily attendance rate for the district. School nurses also keep teachers in their classrooms and parents at their jobs. This is why each dollar invested in school nursing yields twice that in economic benefits to the communities they serve.
The district made a rushed decision that lacked forethought, input from families, and transparency. We are asking the school board to hear the concerns of parents and retain a full time nurse in every school.
571
The Decision Makers
Supporter Voices
Petition created on March 29, 2026