Res. No. 001-01-11149RESOLUTION NO.1-01-11149
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI,FLORIDA,DECLARING SUPPORT FOR
SCHOOL NURSES IN ALL FLORIDA PUBLICSCHOOLS;
REQUESTING THE FLORIDA STATE LEGISLATURE AND
GOVERNOR BUSH TO PROVIDE FUNDING TO FLORIDA'S SIXTY-
SEVEN SCHOOL DISTRICTS FOR SCHOOL NURSES IN EVERY
SCHOOL;PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS,a licensed nurse draws upon her assets of
education,experience andskillstodirect potential health
problems,recognize and manage illness,administer first aid,
offerskilledhealthguidanceand counseling,detectpotential
health problems,make necessary medical referral,and actasthe
personal physician's extensionintotheschoolsettingtomake
the health needs ofthechildduringtheschoolday;and
WHEREAS,student attendance and academic grades are
improvedbytheschool nurse's earlydetection disease,andby
adequateassessmentandjudgmentwhenstudentsarewellenough
to remain in school;and
WHEREAS,school nurses collaborate with administrators to
promote a healthy,safe and nurturing environment;and
WHEREAS,according toa recent survey conducted bythe
National Association of Nurses,ninety-eightpercentofschool
nurseshavesavedachild's life,eighty-twopercenthave
identified anabusedchildand sixty-seven percent have
counseled a depressed/suicidal student;and
WHEREAS,teachers are able to devote their time to
educating students because the school nurse coordinates the
health care needs of the students;and
WHEREAS,parents are confident their children's health
needsandalicensednurse appropriately addresses injuries
during the school day.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI,FLORIDA;
Section 1.Hereby declare their support in requesting
fromthe Florida State Legislature and Governor Jeb Bush to
Additions shown by underlining and deletions shown by ovorstriking.
provide new funding to Florida's sixty-seven public school
districts for school nurses in every school.
Section 2.This resolution shall take effect
immediately upon approval.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this9th day of January
ATTEST:.APPROVED:
MAYOR
READ AND APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Commission Vote:
Mayor Robaina:
Vice Mayor Feliu:
Commissioner Wiscombe:
Commissioner Bethel:
Commissioner Russell:
CITY ATTORNEY
Res.No.1-01-11149
Page2 of 2
2001.
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Yea
Yea
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Excellence,Integrity,Inclusion
MEMORANDUM
To:Honorable Mayor,Vice Mayor
andCityCommission
From:Charles Scurr /)fl
City Manager /If
Date:January 9,2001
Re:AgendaItem H
SupportingFundingforSchoolNursesin
everySchool District inthe State of Florida
REQUEST
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
SOUTH MIAMI,FLORIDA,DECLARING SUPPORT FOR SCHOOL NURSES IN ALL
FLORIDA PUBLIC SCHOOLS;REQUESTING THE FLORIDA SATE LEGISLATURE
AND GOVERNOR BUSH TO PROVIDE FUNDING TO FLORIDA'S SIXTY-SEVEN
SCHOOL DISTRICTS FOR SCHOOL NURSES IN EVERY SCHOOL;PROVIDING AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
According toarecentsurveyconductedbythe National Association of Nurses,ninety-eight of
schoolnurseshavesavedachild's life,eighty-twopercenthave identified anabusedchildand
sixty-sevenpercenthavecounseledadepressed/suicidalstudent.
This resolution sponsoredbyMayor Robaina declares supportforschoolnursesandrequestthe
FloridaStateLegislatureandGovernorBushtoprovide funding toFlorida's Sixty-seven school
districtstoprovideschoolnursesinevery school.
RECOMMENDATION
Approval is recommended.
December 15,2000
The School Nurses of Okaloosa County
825 Whitrock Lane
Fort Walton Beach,Florida 32547
(850)862-2705
MayorJulio Robaino
City of South Miami
6130 Sunset Drive
South Miami,Florida 33143
Dear Honorable Robaina:
I am a school nurse with the Okaloosa School District,and I am writing you concerning
funding for public school nurses.As you may be aware,a majority of schools not just in
yourcity,but throughout Florida,do not have a nurse on their permanent staff.Due to
budget constraints,public schools can notafforda licensed nurse to address the health
needs of their children.Therefore,the schools are forced to place their
schoolchildren's health needs in the hands of school personnel,such as secretaries
and bookkeepers,who are not medically trained and licensed.
To provide state funding fora licensed nurse in every public school,my colleagues and
I are seeking the support of Florida's mayors,city councils and county commissioners.
Enclosed please find a resolution we would like you and your city council to endorse on
behalf of your schoolchildren and return it to us at the above address.The purpose of
this resolution istocall upon the Florida Legislature and Governor Bush to provide new
funding specifically to Florida's sixty-seven public school districts for school nurses,at
least at the LPN level.Your promptness in returning your endorsed resolution to us
wouldbegreatlyappreciatedasthestatelegislators will convene onthe 6th of March,
2001,and we intend to address the legislators during this session.As our
schoolchildren's health advocates,we strongly believe this is an issue worth pursuing,
and we appreciate your support.
In the event you have any comments or questions,in addition to the above telephone
number,please feel free to contact me at home,850-862-0420.I welcome any
suggestions you may have.Thank youforyourtime,consideration and support
concerning this matter,and I amlookingforwardto hearing from you soon.
With kind regards,
RosieRakocy,LPN
School Nurse
trRj}f>rv rhilA ^>.cprnp.Q n srhnnl nurse "
RESOLUTION DECLARING SUPPORT FOR
SCHOOL NURSES IN ALL FLORIDA PUBLIC SCHOOLS
WHEREAS,a licensed nurse draws upon her assets of education,experience and skills to detect
potential health problems,recognize and manage illness,administer first aid,offer skilled health guidance and
counseling,detect potential health problems,make necessary medical referral,and actas the personal
physician's extension into the school setting to meet the health needs of the child during the school day,and
WHEREAS,student attendance and academic grades are improved bythe school nurse's early
detection disease,and by adequate assessment and judgment when students are well enough to remain in
school,and
WHEREAS,school nurses collaborate with administrators to promote a healthy,safeand nurturing
environment,and
WHEREAS,according toarecent survey conducted bythe National Association of Nurses,ninety-
eight percent of schoolnurseshavesavedachild'slife,eighty-two percenthaveidentifiedanabusedchildand
sixty-sevenpercenthavecounseledadepressed/suicidalstudent,and
WHEREAS,teachersareabletodevotetheirtimetoeducatingstudentsbecausetheschoolnurse
coordinatesthe health care needs of the students,and
WHEREAS,parents are confident their children's health needs and injuries are appropriately addressed
byalicensednurseduringthe school day.
Beitresolvedthatthegoverningbody of doeshereby
declare their support in requesting from theFloridaState Legislature and Governor Jeb Bush to
provide newfundingtoFlorida'ssixty-seven public school districtsforschoolnursesinevery school.
Passedandadoptedbythe City Council/Board of County Commisioners,
Florida,this day of ,20.
APPROVED:
(Mayor)
PLEASE HELP Support
School Nurses:
Contact Your School
Board &State Legislators
Due tothelackoffunding,of the
37 public schools in Okaloosa
County,only 17 are fortunate
enough to have alicensed nurse.
Theremaining schools placetheir
schoolchildren's health in the
hands of personnel who are not
medically trained and licensed.
The lack of funding for school
nurses is prevalent throughout
many counties inFlorida,including
Okaloosa County.To correct this
problem,please voice your
support by asking your
legislators to provide new
funding to each school district
for school nurses,because
every child deserves
a school nurse.
School Board of Okaloosa Co.
District
120 Lowery Place
Ft.Walton Beach,FL 32548
Phone:833-4251
foremanm(g)mail.okaloosa.k12.fl.us
State Legislators
Senator Charlie Clary (District7)
1241AirportRoad,Suite A
Destin,FL 32541
Phone:(850)833-9159
clary.charlie.web(5)leq.state.fl.us
Representative Jerry G.Melvin
(District 4)
Suite 1A,Sound Office Complex
38MiracleStrip Parkway
Ft.Walton Beach,FL 32548
Phone:(850)833-9319
melvin,ierrv@leq.state.fl.us
Representative Jeff Miller (District1)
5233 WillingSt.
Milton,FL 32570
Phone:(850)983-5550
miller.ieff(5)leq.state.fl.us
Senator Durell Peaden,Jr.
(District 1)
598 North Ferdon Blvd.
Crestview,FL 32536-2753
Phone:(850)689-0556
peaden.durell(o)leq.state.fl.us
For more information about School Nurses,
please call the School Nurses of Okaloosa
County at (850)862-2705.
EVERY
CHILD
DESERVES
A SCHOOL
/VURSE V
v/hat Difference
Does a School /Vurse
r\oXe?
School Nurses collaborate
with administrators to
promote a healthy,safe and
nurturing environment.
Parents are confident their
children's health needs and
injuries are appropriately
handledduringtheschool
day.
Teachers are freed up to
devote their time to
educating students because
the School Nurse
coordinates the health care
needs of the students.
School attendance is
improved bytheSchool
Nurse'searlydetectionof
disease,and by adequate
assessment and judgement
when students are well
enoughto remain in school.
HEALTHY KIDS LEAR/V
BETTER.
v/hat Do School
yVurses Do?
According toa recent survey
conducted bytheNational
Association of School Nurses:
98%
HAVESAVEDA CHILD'S LIFE
82%
HAVEIDENTIFIEDAN ABUSED
CHILD
67%
HAVE COUNSELED A
DEPRESSED/SUICIDAL STUDENT
The most recent Florida School
Health Services Report indicates the
following diagnosed health
conditions of students in Okaloosa
County Schools:
condition:number of students:
Allergies 800
Asthma 915
ADHD 1,087
Seizures 185
Cardiac 148
Diabetes 38
Bleeding Disorders 13
Sickle Cell Anemia 18
Cancer 12
Cystic Fibrosis 4
v/hat KirxdL of Routine Services
Do School /Curses Provide?
EACH SCHOOL NURSE IN
OKALOOSA COUNTY TREATS AN
AVERAGE OF 83 CHILDREN
EVERY DAY
EACH School Nurse in Okaloosa County provides
the following health treatments/services:
Minor lnjuries(abrasions,cuts,etc.)119/month
Major lnjuries(broken bones,concussions)Wmonth
Physical Complaints(headaches,vomiting)484/month
PrescriptionMedicationAdministered634/month
Non-Prescription Medication Administered 99/month
Counseling/Health Education 410/month
Chronic Condition Intervention 581 /month
(Diabetes,Seizures,Asthma,etc.)
Preventative Services 295/month
(checkingforlice,bloodpressure,etc.)
Mental Health Issues 266/month
(Depression,behavioral intervention)
Letters to Parents 114/month
Physical Assessments 84/month
Referrals(vision,dental,emergency,etc.)185/month
Phone Calls Placed to Parents 159/month
Average #StudentsSent Home 69/month
Average #Students Returned toClass 1,160/month