You advocated for funding for a nurse in every Pinellas County Public School and they listened! This week the Pinellas Board of County Commissioners unanimously voted to provide funding for a school nurse in every public school.
The Board acknowledged that the state should pay the costs but agreed to fund the program while still pushing the state to do more. The proposal will slightly increase the millage with proceeds going to the Department of Health to fund a portion of registered nurse and licensed practical nurse positions. The Pinellas Park Beacon reported:
To pay for the nurses, commissioners unanimously agreed to raise the Health Department millage rate from 0.0622 to 0.0835. The cost for an average single-family home valued at $131,000 would be an additional $2.79 a year.
Currently, the Department of Health only funds 12 nurses that rotate between schools. Schools without a nurse have to call 911 which puts a drain on county resources. Nearly a third of all Pinellas County students have a chronic health issue, according to WFTS ABC Action News.
UPDATE: More reporting about this story from the Tampa Bay Times
Thanks to your voice- schools can provide this valuable service to all children.
If you’re a Pinellas County resident, use the easy tool below to contact your Pinellas County Commissioners. Thank them for supporting children and voting for school nurses at every school. Share this page with your friends and spread the word.
