BCLUW, GC will no longer share school nurse position

Acknowledging the difficulty of splitting time between two districts and an increased workload, the BCLUW school board voted unanimously to discontinue the sharing agreement with Grundy Center for a school nurse and reduce the position to part-time during last Wednesday morning’s monthly meeting.
           
According to board members, current nurse Gayle Barkema reported that she doesn’t feel she’s able to do all she can and doesn’t wish to continue under the present arrangement. Since longtime shared nurse Gloria Dielschneider retired in 2016, Laurie Wallis held the job for a year before resigning, and this is Barkema’s second year.
           
Board President Mary Beth Neff cited an increase in the needs of students without a proportional increase in resources to deal with them, and board member LJ Kopsa opined that the load wouldn’t get any lighter in the future.
           
“I don’t think this position’s going to get any easier to fill,” he said.
           
After some discussion, the board voted to discontinue the 28E agreement and reduce the position to 26 hours a week. Superintendent Ben Petty told The Grundy Register that the job is still Barkema’s if she wishes to continue under the new terms. 
 
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