Dear Members of the Howard County Board of Education and members of our community:

I am writing to you today with extreme urgency to express grave concerns about the board's proposition on budget cuts and the impending reduction in school health staff, specifically the potential loss of 30+ health assistant positions and the profound dangers this poses to the health, safety, and well-being of our students and staff in Howard County Public Schools.

The notion of having only one health professional, whether a nurse or a solitary health assistant, responsible for an entire school building is not merely concerning – it is an unconscionable risk. Our schools are dynamic environments, and the health needs of our students are diverse and often unpredictable. From managing chronic conditions like diabetes, asthma, and severe allergies, to responding to sudden illnesses, injuries, and mental health crises, of both student and staff, the demands on school health services are constant and critical.

Here are some eye-opening statistics from HCPSS Health Services:. 

•  Currently, 42.8% of students attending HCPSS have a known chronic health impairment. Parents do not have to share their students' health information.
• Our daily average of health visits is 7500 - 8200. 
• There are 64,062 students enrolled this school year. We have had 323,397 daily health room visits to date, and an average of 7500 to 8200 daily visits.
• Of the 64,062 enrolled students, 44,847 have been seen for a health room visit (70%). 
• Approximately 4200 students have had >16 visits to the health room this year, which can include those with chronic health concerns such as diabetes, G-Tube feedings....

The current staffing model, which already relies heavily on the dedication and often overstretched efforts of our nurses and health assistants, provides a vital safety net. Health assistants play an indispensable role in the day-to-day operations of the health suite, providing immediate first aid, administering medications, assisting with medical procedures, communicating with parents, and maintaining essential health records. Their presence allows school nurses to focus on more complex medical needs, health education, and case management.

Eliminating 30+ health assistant positions would dismantle this critical support system, placing an impossible burden on our remaining school nurses. The consequences of such a decision are severe and far-reaching:

Delayed or Inadequate Emergency Response: In a medical emergency, every second counts. A single individual cannot be in multiple places at once. If a nurse is attending to one student, who will respond to another student experiencing an anaphylactic reaction or a severe injury across the building?
Increased Risk of Medical Errors: Overwhelmed and understaffed health professionals are more prone to errors, which could have life-threatening implications for our students.
Compromised Management of Chronic Conditions: Students with chronic illnesses require consistent monitoring and care. Without sufficient staff, their needs may go unmet, leading to exacerbations, hospitalizations, and significant disruption to their learning.
Reduced Access to Basic Healthcare: Routine health checks, vision and hearing screenings, and general first aid will be significantly impacted, potentially leading to undiagnosed health issues.
Increased Burden on Teachers and Administrators: When school health staff are unavailable, the responsibility for attending to student health needs inevitably falls on teachers and administrators, diverting them from their primary educational duties and for which they are not trained.
Exacerbated Mental Health Challenges: Many students present to the health suite with anxiety, panic attacks, or other mental health concerns. A lack of readily available support can escalate these situations.
Legal and Liability Risks: Insufficient health staffing exposes the school system to significant legal and liability risks should a student suffer harm due to delayed or inadequate care.
Field Trip/Extracurricular Activity Risks: Health room staff is already burdened by the planning of field trips to allow our disabled and chronically ill students to participate.  We coordinate care and make sure there is a health care representative present on field trips and during extracurricular activities.  At times, if there are no parents or float nurses available to attend the activity/trip, a school nurse or health assistant will attend so that the trip or activity is not cancelled.

Our students deserve to feel safe and supported in their learning environment. Their parents deserve the peace of mind knowing that qualified health professionals are readily available to attend to their children's needs. The proposed cuts are not just a financial decision; they are a direct threat to the well-being and academic success of every child in Howard County Public Schools.

We implore the Howard County Board of Education to reconsider these dangerous cuts and prioritize the health and safety of our students. We urge you to fully staff our schools with both qualified school nurses and health assistants to ensure that every student has access to the immediate and comprehensive healthcare they need and deserve.

We request the opportunity to discuss this critical matter further and offer our assistance in finding sustainable solutions that do not jeopardize the health of our student population.

Sincerely,

HCPSS Health Services Nurses and Health Assistants