NHP Parent Pens Concerned Letter On Moving Of School Nurses

A parent recently penned a letter to New Hyde Park-Garden City Park UFSD Superintendent of Schools after learning that a school nurse at Notre Dame School, a Catholic elementary school in New Hyde Park, would be transferred to a Manor Oaks School.

The parent, Craig Dunne, says he has heard of "problems" surrounding the nurse that would move to Notre Dame School and that "moving a problem from one location to another does not seem to be the most efficient solution."

• What are your thoughts on the matter? Should parents have a say in this?

Read the full letter below:

Dear Dr. Jennifer Morrison:

We are members of the New Hyde Park Community and parents of students at Notre Dame School in New Hyde Park. We are writing to express our concerns about your recent decision to move our school nurse, Mrs Jane Dumas, to Manor Oaks and give Notre Dame the nurse from that school. It concerns us that this decision was announced just days after we, the residents of New Hyde Park, voted to pass the 2018-2019 Public School Budget.

We understand that Mrs. Dumas is an employee of the New Hyde Park- Garden City Park UFSD, however she has been the school nurse at Notre Dame for 5 years. During this time, she has become part of the Notre Dame Family. She knows our children and always has their best interests in mind. She is diligent in the care she provides to our children and she knows their needs (allergies, asthma, etc.) She is proactive and informative. She participates in Notre Dame events and supports our school whole heartedly. Losing her would be a huge loss for our school and our students.

New Hyde Park is a tight knit community. We are neighbors and friends. We are aware of the current situation with the nurse at Manor Oaks. In addition to her lack of experience, we have heard that there are concerns with her methods and the care that she provides to the students. This further adds to our concerns. As parents we want what is best for our children and having a school nurse that is subpar is just not acceptable, regardless of the school that your children attend.

As Superintendent your responsibility is to all students in the district, including the children of Notre Dame, and therefore if there are concerns about the performance of the nurse at Manor Oaks relocating her to our school is difficult to understand. Moving a problem from one location to another does not seem to be the most efficient solution.

We sincerely hope that you will reconsider your decision and understand that the students of Notre Dame deserve the care and consideration provided by Mrs. Dumas for the past 5 years.

Sincerely,

Craig Dunne

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