I have concerns about the Maine Department of Education’s Essential Programs and Services ratio for school nurses. The state developed this list funding public schools. The ratio they have is 1 nurse for 800 students. That’s disturbing.

How the state came up with this figure disturbs me more. The state gathered the number of students we have in public schools and the number of school nurses servicing these students, divided the numbers and came to the ratio of 1-to-800. They did not consult with any nurse or health committee to see if this were safe or adequate.

The ratio is unsafe. Schools without adequate nursing services have horror stories to tell. It is proven that having adequate nursing coverage saves lives, fewer medication errors occur, and kids are healthier and can learn better.

We have serious medical needs in our public schools. We need to have qualified school nurses tending to these needs.

The Maine School Health Advisory Board recommends a ratio of 1-to-500 in the general school population and 1-to-255 in the mainstreamed population. Most public schools in Maine have mainstreamed populations. Unfortunately, towns have to pay the difference to provide adequate nursing services for their children in schools because the state is not providing adequate funding.

This is a matter of life and death in some cases. State representatives should amend the Essential Programs and Services ratio to provide safe, adequate nursing services for all children in public schools.

Laurie Pitcher, Lisbon Falls