List Of Nurses Turns Up 'Placeholders'
Despite the cutbacks, Nelson Luis, who oversees health services, said he is confident children are safe and schools are covered.
"No child's going to go without care," Luis said. "I'm convinced we are doing what we need to be doing - with less people, with cutbacks."
Luis, the district's general director for student support and federal programs, said Monday morning that there is a health professional at every school. On Tuesday morning, he produced a list showing at least one person's name beside each school. Luis said the list was valid as of last week, although subject to change.
The first name The Tampa Tribune checked out was Tanski. The list shows her as the sole health care provider assigned to the South County Career Center.
"I don't even know where that is," Tanski said Tuesday. Her assigned schools are Dowdell Middle and Clair-Mel and Palm River elementary schools, with Summerfield Elementary added this year, she said.
Gallogly said late Wednesday that the list remains "fluid" and is being revised. Tanski's name was listed next to the career center as a "placeholder." There is a nurse at the school, Gallogly said, but she teaches there and is not employed by her department."
If this story is correct, then this is an example of obfuscation by the District, and finally someone has dug a little deeper.
So the question remains - How long will Tanski last in her position? Telling the truth outside the system could have it's effects, only the wrong ones.
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From the same article:
" Nurses train and supervise the 105 health assistants who may be the sole health care worker assigned to a school. Health assistants must hold nursing assistant certification and receive 80 hours of district training, Gallogly said.
"They don't have the experience or the education to anticipate and assess problems," said Barbara Ross, a registered nurse for 32 years, 12 in Hillsborough. "Basically we're teaching them first aid and some other basic things."
She said she has sent letters to the district outlining her concerns. "If I had a child in school, I would be concerned."
And then there is this:
"Elia said Wednesday night that the current numbers are enough as long as there is a health professional at every school.
She said some solutions were worked out with nurses Monday, which included hiring retired nurses to review student health records at the beginning of the school year.
"This is a national issue," Elia said, noting that Hillsborough has had model programs for health. "It would not be my intention to cut. We're near the level we should be."
This last statement must be one of those national recognition that some Board members were touting. Apparently what the local people who are actually seeing and speaking about the issues every day must be disconnected.
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