The following is an update to our community on the insufficient nursing coverage that is currently going on at Stoddert. The PTO has been very active and vocal in pressing DCPS, the City Council, the Department of Health and the Mayor and advocating for adequate nursing coverage for all students across the entire city.

Based on Stoddert students’ health information, the DC Department of Health allocated Stoddert a nurse for 40 hours per week and the DC Council budgeted funds for the allocated nurse coverage. However, the DC Department of Health, which is the agency in charge of providing nurses to school, is currently only providing Stoddert a nurse for 24 hours per week and some of those 24 hours are fulfilled by having a nurse available by phone only. When there is no nurse on duty, health issues are handled by the school’s administration to the best of their ability or by calling 911.

The DC City Council’s Committee on Health voted unanimously last week in favor of a bill that would require each DC school to have a nurse for at least 40 hours per week (B22-0027 – Public School Health Services Amendment Act of 2017).  The next step is for the entire Council to vote on the bill.

Until 40 hours are required by law, the Stoddert PTO will continue to fight to get the 40 hours promised and required for its students.