The district’s chief nurse reported to the board that licensed nurses and health aides handled more than 38,000 student health-office visits last school year, despite enrollment declines. The chief nurse also said the number of Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings with nurse sign-off rose from 190 to 266.

"Per the IDEA and ADA and the Nevada State Board of Nursing, only a licensed school nurse may sign off on these meetings as well as write health care plans for students who need them," the chief nurse said, describing staffing models that place licensed nurses in higher-acuity schools and health aides in lower-acuity sites.

The nurse described health and wellness education delivered to students and parents — including medication therapy, first aid, illness prevention, sun safety, concussion care and nutrition — and said the team provided health education to roughly 2,200 more students and 465 more parents than the prior year.

Staff completed two projects the nurse highlighted: distribution of new automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to all schools, and continuation of a grant-funded school dental program that provides screenings and basic preventive services (sealants and fluoride varnish) free to students. The dental team expanded this year to include Douglas High School.

Trustees asked about AED placement and access. The chief nurse said AEDs are typically placed by the nurse’s office or high-traffic locations and that middle schools now have two AEDs each. Board members and staff raised an incident in which a locked facility delayed AED access during a recent Pop Warner event off campus; the chief nurse described the event as a discussion point about ensuring access when schools host outside athletics.

The board did not take action on the report. The nurse’s presentation concluded with praise for school nursing staff and a request that trustees recognize school health services’ role in student well-being and academic success.

Ending: The district will maintain and monitor AED placement and continue the grant-funded dental screenings; staff said they will follow up on access procedures for off-site athletic events.