Don't Outsource the Healthcare of Our Schoolchildren!

William Hite, Superintendent, School District of Philadelphia; Marjorie Neff, Chair, School Reform Commission

Rather than restoring programs and services that students have lost to severe budget cuts, the School District of Philadelphia is trying to outsource the services of substitute teachers and school nurses. 

This is a bad idea that diminishes the quality of education and heightens the risk of our schoolchildren's healthcare. 

Tell the School District and the School Reform Commission to stop their efforts to privatize Philadelphia's educators! 

To: William Hite, Superintendent, School District of Philadelphia; Marjorie Neff, Chair, School Reform Commission
From: [Your Name]

We urge the School District and the School Reform Commission to reconsider its plan to privatize the services offered by Certified school nurses.

As the parents, students, educators and community residents, we depend on Philadelphia's public schools to educate our children and keep them safe. When it comes to treating and preventing health-related emergencies at school, our city's children deserve the best possible care. That care is provided by certified school nurses.

Certified school nurses specialize in the healthcare of school students. As pediatricians specialize in the healthcare of children, school nurses are specifically trained to work with school populations. Not only must they possess a Bachelor’s Degree (many have advanced degrees), they are certified by the PA Departments of Health and Education.

Certified school nurses do more than administer to the day-to-day health needs of children. School nurses collaborate with entire school staff to enhance student health and academic achievement. They are trained to understand the education and intellectual development of children and adolescents, and are highly qualified to teach children to prevent accidents, good health habits and improve their health status.

Certified school nurses are as familiar with the students as any other educators. They contribute to the health and education of students and their families in a school setting by communicating with families and knowing the school community.

Unlike contracted healthcare providers, school nurses develop relationships with parents of children with health needs. These relationships give school nurses critical insight into the home life of students, which is critical when making health-related decisions.

Certified school nurses are, by far, the best possible option for Philadelphia’s schoolchildren. With over 26 percent of Philadelphia’s families living in poverty, school nurses are often the only healthcare provider available to our children.

Instead of OUTSOURCING school nurses, BRING BACK the over 100 school nurses lost to years of budget cuts!