Proposed Nurse Reduction in DCPS- how did the meeting go yesterday?

[Anonymous]

Was there any clarity on what they were really proposing? What is the best way to advocate at this point?

TIA

[Anonymous]

Lots of angry parents, nurses, and charter lobbyists present. Unhappy with the current system and can't even imagine the new one with fewer resources devoted to nurse salaries.

Dr. Nesbitt is a public relations disaster. Condescending and completely unsympathetic to any of the people testifying before her. Said that "People don't have an expectation of a nurse at the mall or a movie theater, why should they expect one in a school..."

And that was one of her few direct statements. True bureaucrat, she directly answered few questions.

Zero press present as far as I could tell.

Sign the DC Nurses Association petition. Call your CM, write the mayor, and get your parent associations involved.

http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/every-child-deserves?source=c.em.mt&r_by=759477

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lots of angry parents, nurses, and charter lobbyists present. Unhappy with the current system and can't even imagine the new one with fewer resources devoted to nurse salaries.

Dr. Nesbitt is a public relations disaster. Condescending and completely unsympathetic to any of the people testifying before her. Said that "People don't have an expectation of a nurse at the mall or a movie theater, why should they expect one in a school..."

And that was one of her few direct statements. True bureaucrat, she directly answered few questions.

Zero press present as far as I could tell.

Sign the DC Nurses Association petition. Call your CM, write the mayor, and get your parent associations involved.

http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/every-child-deserves?source=c.em.mt&r_by=759477

I can't believe she said that. Really, that's what our representatives believe?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lots of angry parents, nurses, and charter lobbyists present. Unhappy with the current system and can't even imagine the new one with fewer resources devoted to nurse salaries.

Dr. Nesbitt is a public relations disaster. Condescending and completely unsympathetic to any of the people testifying before her. Said that "People don't have an expectation of a nurse at the mall or a movie theater, why should they expect one in a school..."

And that was one of her few direct statements. True bureaucrat, she directly answered few questions.

Zero press present as far as I could tell.

Sign the DC Nurses Association petition. Call your CM, write the mayor, and get your parent associations involved.

http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/every-child-deserves?source=c.em.mt&r_by=759477

Well, that's highly depressing.

[Anonymous]

What an asinine thing to say. That doesn't even make any sense.

[Anonymous]

^^ regarding Nesbitt's mall comment.

[Anonymous]

Here is why you need a school nurse:
http://www.theislandnow.com/great_neck/news/teamwork-saves-herricks-middle-school-student-s-life/article_1194afd0-8c10-11e6-b1b2-d399eb33b5f5.html?mode=story

[Anonymous]

The pressure needs to be directed at the Mayor - as DOH obviously reports to her.

Where is Jennie Niles on this? Sounds like the schools are opposed, so she should be fighting this within the mayor's cabinet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of angry parents, nurses, and charter lobbyists present. Unhappy with the current system and can't even imagine the new one with fewer resources devoted to nurse salaries.

Dr. Nesbitt is a public relations disaster. Condescending and completely unsympathetic to any of the people testifying before her. Said that "People don't have an expectation of a nurse at the mall or a movie theater, why should they expect one in a school..."

And that was one of her few direct statements. True bureaucrat, she directly answered few questions.

Zero press present as far as I could tell.

Sign the DC Nurses Association petition. Call your CM, write the mayor, and get your parent associations involved.

http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/every-child-deserves?source=c.em.mt&r_by=759477

I can't believe she said that. Really, that's what our representatives believe?

For clarification, Dr. Nesbitt is Director of the DC DOH, not an elected official. Appealing to representatives like councilmembers and mayor to denounce what Dr. Nesbitt is saying is what's needed.

[JoshH]

I wasn't able to stay for the whole hearing, but what I did see towards the end was that Grosso was very understanding of a compromise - to start the new comprehensive programs as planned, but to keep the same level of nurse coverage at least for the rest of the year so we can see what the new programs will provide. He offered support for a mid-year funding transfer to support this, which she promptly shot down "I'm not asking for that."

At this point, I think it needs to be elevated to Bowser. I hope she's already aware of this, but she needs to move on this or own it herself.

The video of the hearing is posted here:
http://dc.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=2&clip_id=3451

Dr. Nesbitt's testimony starts at 3:22:00.

I'll work on writing a letter and I'll post it here if anyone wants to plagiarize.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of angry parents, nurses, and charter lobbyists present. Unhappy with the current system and can't even imagine the new one with fewer resources devoted to nurse salaries.

Dr. Nesbitt is a public relations disaster. Condescending and completely unsympathetic to any of the people testifying before her. Said that "People don't have an expectation of a nurse at the mall or a movie theater, why should they expect one in a school..."

And that was one of her few direct statements. True bureaucrat, she directly answered few questions.

Zero press present as far as I could tell.

Sign the DC Nurses Association petition. Call your CM, write the mayor, and get your parent associations involved.

http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/every-child-deserves?source=c.em.mt&r_by=759477

I can't believe she said that. Really, that's what our representatives believe?

For clarification, Dr. Nesbitt is Director of the DC DOH, not an elected official. Appealing to representatives like councilmembers and mayor to denounce what Dr. Nesbitt is saying is what's needed.

+ a million. Will email our Council member.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What an asinine thing to say. That doesn't even make any sense.

She may be good at her job and great with her peers, but she should never be allowed to represent DoH on an issue like this in public. Not a single sympathetic statement or gesture. Impatient with criticism. Any able to empathize and completely dismissive with those who have legit concerns. And defensive, too.

[Anonymous]

Allen didn't stay for the whole meeting but while he was there he seemed to be the only one questioning the approach. Grosso asked a few hard questions but Nesbitt either didn't answer the questions at all or gave really flippant answers. I wonder who the groups are that will receive the "grants" and what existing connections those groups have to DOH.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What an asinine thing to say. That doesn't even make any sense.

She may be good at her job and great with her peers, but she should never be allowed to represent DoH on an issue like this in public. Not a single sympathetic statement or gesture. Impatient with criticism. Any able to empathize and completely dismissive with those who have legit concerns. And defensive, too.

I don't know which meeting it was, but at one of the earlier public meetings she apparently said, not everything in DC has to be decided by committee. Meaning that DoH was going to decide this without input from anyone else. PR disaster indeed. She seems to have completely missed the serving the public part of public service.

I think it's pretty clear that only very senior pressure will work on her. Bowser and the council have to put pressure on her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What an asinine thing to say. That doesn't even make any sense.

She may be good at her job and great with her peers, but she should never be allowed to represent DoH on an issue like this in public. Not a single sympathetic statement or gesture. Impatient with criticism. Any able to empathize and completely dismissive with those who have legit concerns. And defensive, too.

I don't know which meeting it was, but at one of the earlier public meetings she apparently said, not everything in DC has to be decided by committee. Meaning that DoH was going to decide this without input from anyone else. PR disaster indeed. She seems to have completely missed the serving the public part of public service.

I think it's pretty clear that only very senior pressure will work on her. Bowser and the council have to put pressure on her.

She is appointed. Bowser can fire her at will.