School Secretary Denied Grievance Hearing Over Substitute Nurse Policy
By: Marci Manley, KARK 4 News
Updated: January 28, 2013
"I would hate for my not being properly trained to cause a child to be hurt or killed. I couldn't live with that," Shelley Sledd told us before the school board meeting.
Sledd works as a school secretary in Bauxite School District. In November, she filed a grievance after her school ordered her to act as school nurse substitute for a day, administering medications and responding to emergency situations if one arose.
"We follow the Arkansas State Board of Nursing guidelines for schools and adhere to those," said district spokesperson Kim Arnold.
But Sledd, saying she received only a 10 minute training in August and felt unprepared to take on the role. She was reprimanded by her principal over the policy, one Sledd and her lawyer believe violates state and federal laws.
"I probably would have done the same thing she did -- I wouldn't have given out medication" one school board member said.
Many board members had questions over the nurse policy, but they declined Sledd's grievance. According to the school handbook, a grievance over a reprimand isn't a claim the board can hear.
"There could be a good outcome to it. The good outcome could be, yes she's still reprimanded but we take a look at this thing and do change the policy," said Board President Jim Parsons. "That's if we're speaking hypothetically. We'll review the policy and see if anything needs to be changed."
The fact that the board declined to hear Sledd's grievance tonight, puts an end to her recourse at the district level. She has, however, filed a complaint with the State Board of Nursing over the policy as well.
Sledd works as a school secretary in Bauxite School District. In November, she filed a grievance after her school ordered her to act as school nurse substitute for a day, administering medications and responding to emergency situations if one arose.
"We follow the Arkansas State Board of Nursing guidelines for schools and adhere to those," said district spokesperson Kim Arnold.
But Sledd, saying she received only a 10 minute training in August and felt unprepared to take on the role. She was reprimanded by her principal over the policy, one Sledd and her lawyer believe violates state and federal laws.
"I probably would have done the same thing she did -- I wouldn't have given out medication" one school board member said.
Many board members had questions over the nurse policy, but they declined Sledd's grievance. According to the school handbook, a grievance over a reprimand isn't a claim the board can hear.
"There could be a good outcome to it. The good outcome could be, yes she's still reprimanded but we take a look at this thing and do change the policy," said Board President Jim Parsons. "That's if we're speaking hypothetically. We'll review the policy and see if anything needs to be changed."
The fact that the board declined to hear Sledd's grievance tonight, puts an end to her recourse at the district level. She has, however, filed a complaint with the State Board of Nursing over the policy as well.
