The Board of Education began its December 15 virtual meeting honoring school nurses for their efforts related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Such celebrations are routine parts of board meetings.

“I’m so happy to welcome all of our guests for our celebration,” Board of Education Chair Michelle Embree Ku said.

Superintendent of Schools Dr Lorrie Rodrigue said the group of district school nurses have “worked tirelessly under these very extreme conditions.”

A pandemic, Dr Rodrigue continued, has not been experienced in a school setting in “our lifetime,” until now. The nurses have been providing advice to parents, taking care of symptomatic students, helping with local contact tracing efforts, and have been offering comfort to “the entire school community.”

“I’ve worked with so many of these nurses, and I can tell you just in talking with our staff throughout the district they are true behind-the-scenes heroes,” said Dr Rodrigue.

Dr Rodrigue also highlighted Newtown Public Schools Nursing Supervisor Anne Dalton for helping the local contact tracing efforts with Newtown Health District Director Donna Culbert, who Dr Rodrigue said has been a “voice of calm and reason in the midst of conflicting reports, and dates, and messaging, and so much more.”

“Our nurses, who always have answers, and if they don’t, they seek out those answers, really [do] help keep us balanced,” Dr Rodrigue said. “It helps us with good judgment and it helps us make good decisions. I want to thank you all for that.”

Dr Rodrigue read the names of nurses to celebrate them individually during the meeting. The nurses honored were Juliann Johnson, Maddy Allen, Trish MacDonald, Mariza Borges, Deirdre Murphy, Jocelyne Taweh, Andrea Trager, Kim Carrino, Terry Mulski, Karen Powell, Stephanie Daly, Carissa Rotas, Bonnie Nezvesky, and Christina Benoit.

Near the end of the celebration, Dr Rodrigue thanked the nurses for “all you have done this year” on behalf of the district.

Ku said, “On behalf of the board, thank you for all you are doing for our schools, not only with the usual supports we know you do every year, but also with these unprecedented health circumstances this year. We depend on you and we are so thankful for all that you’re doing in helping keep our schools healthy.”