21.01.2026, 14:18

Over the past several weeks, families in the Kohler School District have been made aware of changes affecting how student health needs are supported during the school week. This petition was created to document concerns raised by families and to ask the district to consider establishing a full-time school nurse position.

Recent staffing changes
The district nurse position is currently part time, with nursing coverage four days per week. On the fifth day, trained non-medical staff provide basic health support. In recent weeks, there have been additional staffing transitions involving office and support staff who previously assisted with student health needs.

Initial parent outreach
In January, I contacted the school board and district administration as the parent of a student with Type 1 diabetes to express concern about the lack of full-time nursing coverage. In that message, I emphasized that while staff training is important, it is not equivalent to having a qualified medical professional consistently available in the building. The letter focused on student safety, attendance, and educational equity, and noted that the district’s enrollment is close to commonly used benchmarks for full-time nursing coverage.

District response
The superintendent responded by outlining steps the district is taking to manage the transition, including additional training for office staff and the use of substitute support on days when the nurse is not present. The response expressed confidence in the district’s ability to support students under the current structure.

Follow-up communication
I replied to clarify that my concern is not about the efforts or intentions of individual staff members, but about the structure itself. In that follow-up, I reiterated that trained staff, while helpful, are not a substitute for having a medical professional on site every day. I also raised concerns about attendance and learning disruptions that can occur when families are unsure whether adequate medical support is available during the school day.

Why this petition
This petition was created to give families and community members a way to express their support for consistent, full-time nursing coverage. The goal is to ensure that student health and safety are addressed proactively and that community input is considered before future staffing decisions are finalized.

This petition will remain open until Feb 10 so that signatures can be presented at the Feb 11 school board meeting.