School nurse

I am writing this as a last-ditch effort to remind our community of the vital importance of having a school nurse, and we are about to lose ours. I come from a place of extreme frustration and despair. I have left messages with two of the less-supportive school board members, Mr. Charlie Abell and Mr. David Fern, who have not returned my calls.

I am a mother, first and foremost, who raised three children through Whitefish schools before there was a school nurse, and in less stressful and perhaps even healthier times. Nonetheless, there were multiple accidents and sick days where the already busy office staff had to pitch in and take care of my kids until I or their father could be reached — and sometimes they didn’t even reach us. And some of those injuries on the playground needed medical attention and triage, which they were not trained to do.

Secondly, I am a medical professional myself, working as a nurse practitioner for the county. Healthcare as we all know is in quite a transition, and there are epidemic problems of diabetes, obesity, cancer and mental health issues, including suicide, that are beginning in younger and younger populations.

Families, get a grip. Our children need a healthcare professional on site (as there are in every other school district) to whom they can count on for consistent, appropriate care and confidentiality, as well as someone to advocate for them, as well as their families.

Nationally, school nurses are deemed the bridge to healthcare for our children into the future, as many families are so overwhelmed they haven’t the time or knowledge to pursue the information themselves.

Legally speaking, Whitefish schools are also placing themselves in a liability arena. Please find the money to support our school nurse. When dollars can be found to develop plans for a new high school that we cannot even afford for years to come, let’s look a little more at the present and take care of the business at hand. These type decisions role model where priorities for health need to be.

Sheila Shapiro

Whitefish