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School Nurse Deployment Proposal <br />Page 6 <br />Finally, the staff working group recommended that the funding for the positions outlined <br />above be included in the Health Department's annual budget. It is important to note that <br />the <br />positions would not be Health Department positions. Instead, the working group <br />recommended that each school system should employ and supervise their respective <br />positions. The Health Department would develop service contracts with each school <br />system and pay each district for services provided by these positions. As a provision of <br />the contract, each school system would maintain the equivalent number of nurses <br />currently funded, and the Health Department would continue to allocate 1.4 full -time <br />equivalent nurses directly to the schools until Year 2 of the funding plan. At that time, <br />both school systems would attain the goal of one nurse per school. The Hepatitis B <br />nurse will continue to fulfill the goals of that program, until that program achieves 100% <br />immunization of the school population (projected for FY 2004- 2005). The remaining <br />health department nurse. currently assigned directly_to.ahe schools, will be assigned- to . <br />coordinate with both school systems,to plan and provide continuing education to meet <br />best practices for the school health program. In addition, this nurse will be available to <br />cover either school system in the event a school nurse requires extended .leave. The <br />health department will continue to provide medical direction for policy and protocol <br />development and will provide school - nursing continuing education appropriate to <br />maintain best school nursing practices in each system. Public health nursing principles <br />are particularly important in confined settings such as schools. Coordination of health <br />services between school systems will also be part of the health department role. ' <br />