First bell has not yet sounded at Prairie High School when nurse Micki Moss gets her first visitor; a student with a stomach ache. She sends them off to eat some breakfast. The next student is bringing in a new insulin pen and getting his blood glucose level checked. After he leaves, Moss checks in remotely on several other diabetic students who wear glucose monitors. Then she checks in on a couple students who are scheduled to receive medications but have not yet come in. First bell still has not rung.
“Basic first aid, ice packs and band aids are absolutely part of the job,” said Catherine Shannon, the district’s health services and nursing supervisor, “but when we talk about the real work that nurses are having to do, it’s more of the big picture chronic condition management.”
Approximately 40% of school-age children in America today deal with at least one chronic health condition such as asthma, diabetes, allergies and/or another disease. Of the nearly 13,000 students who attend Battle Ground Public Schools, nearly 1,000 have some form of life-threatening medical condition. Nurses help to monitor those students, administering up to 1,000 doses of medication each day. They also conduct hearing and vision screenings, track immunizations, monitor and report on communicable disease outbreaks, develop individual health plans for students with special needs and much more.
“Even 20 years ago, students who were on a feeding tube or were undergoing chemotherapy might not be able to attend school,” Shannon said. “Now they can attend because we are able to meet those needs.”
Each year, students in Battle Ground Public Schools visit a health room approximately 50,000 times, or more than 275 visits each day. “Some of it is really significant, some of it is pretty simple, but all of it is consequential,” Shannon said. “All of it involves relationships and reaching out to parents. Communication is a big part of the work we do.”
Currently, there are eight registered nurses and 15 licensed practical nurses covering 19 schools in the district. RNs usually cover multiple buildings, while LPNs usually serve only one school.
“I firmly believe that every child deserves a childhood and every childhood should include access to a meaningful education,” said Lindsay Ross, an RN covering Chief Umtuch Middle, Captain Strong Primary and CAM Academy. “Breaking down those barriers and making sure they have that access is part of what keeps us going.”
Student support comes down to community support
Under Washington state’s funding model, Battle Ground Public Schools receives state funding for fewer than 14 full-time nurses. Additional staffing comes out of the local education and operations levy approved by voters. The current levy expires after 2025. The district has a replacement levy on the Feb. 11 ballot to continue this funding from 2026 to 2029.
The state funding model also covers fewer than two full-time school psychologists for the district. These highly educated mental health professionals perform mental health screenings, develop individualized education plans, collaborate with parents/guardians and teachers, and act as frontline responders in the event of a mental health crisis. Psychologists also provide training for teachers on managing various behavioral conditions and recognizing signs of potential mental health concerns.
School psychologists also work closely with school administrators to improve school-wide practices and policies, and collaborate with community providers to coordinate needed services.
In 2024, Battle Ground Public Schools announced a partnership with Care Solace to provide mental health resources for students, family and staff throughout the district. A total of 12 school counselors were recently recognized as Super Care Heroes by Care Solace. The Super Care Hero Award celebrates mental health advocates, school counselors, and school mental health staff who go above and beyond to connect students to the care they need. This recognition highlights their dedication to changing lives, supporting student well-being, and creating a positive impact in our community.
Counselors are the multi-tools of school positivity
Another important link in that chain are school counselors, providing social-emotional support to students by helping them problem solve, build positive peer relationships and learn to regulate their emotions so they are ready to learn. If necessary, counselors may facilitate group interventions for students needing support with things such as social skills or anxiety management. They also work with parents/guardians to develop personalized support plans for students with more significant needs.
“There are countless research studies that show that students do their best learning when they are emotionally regulated,” said Justine Cohen, a counselor at Tukes Valley Primary School. “I am here to support all students and to provide them with the skills that will help them in any environment, not only at school.”
Deborah Wood, a counselor at Glenwood Heights Primary, shared a recent note she received from a first grade student, thanking her for helping them to be “kind, empathetic and a good friend.”
“School counselors advocate providing access to resources, analyzing data to remove barriers to learning and contributing to a positive school climate,” Wood said. “Their goal is to ensure all students feel safe, supported and ready to succeed.”
Tamra Scheetz, the district’s director of student supports, said counselors are involved in almost every aspect of creating a positive school environment. Some days it may be coordinating a schoolwide kindness campaign. Other days it is a conversation with the family of a student, helping them to navigate a difficult situation in their lives.
At the high school level, counselors provide a safe person for students to talk to, give guidance on the best pathway to graduation and help students navigate their educational or career journey after graduation.
“Teachers play such a critical role in the lives of students, but being one adult in a class of many students can make certain types of support challenging to provide,” Scheetz said. “The school counselors in Battle Ground Public Schools are deeply committed to their students. They are caring, kind and tenacious student advocates.”
Nurses, psychologists and counselors are part of a network that supports the work of teachers. Administrators, security personnel, basic education assistants, volunteers and many more staff members all work together to make sure that students are ready to learn by the time they get to class and prepared for success when they leave for the day.