SCITUATE - September 8 - The Scituate School Committee unanimously approved an emergency increase in substitute nurse pay rates from $140 per day to $35 per hour during their September 8th meeting, marking a rare mid-year salary adjustment aimed at addressing a severe shortage of qualified nursing substitutes needed for field trips, health screenings, and absence coverage.
The Full Story
Kellie Bell, the District's Department chair for Nursing and Health Services, presented the urgent request to the committee, explaining that the district has "lost several of our sub-nurses because we're just not competitive with what the role requires and demands." The change represents a significant increase from the current flat rate of $140 per day to an hourly structure that could result in higher total compensation for full-day assignments.
Director of Business and Finance, Dr. Thomas Raab, noted that he typically avoids requesting salary or fee changes mid-year, preferring to incorporate such adjustments into the annual budget process. However, he said Bell "made a strong, strong case for needing to do this now" due to recruitment difficulties. "We're having a very hard time recruiting substitute nurses, and we're falling behind quickly," Dr. Raab told the committee.
The new hourly rate structure is designed to be both more competitive and budget-friendly, particularly for shorter assignments like field trip coverage that may only require two hours of nursing support. Bell presented comparative data showing that the new rate brings Scituate more in line with surrounding communities competing for the same pool of qualified substitutes.
In other business, the committee welcomed Luke Donlan, a senior at Scituate High School, as the primary student representative for the 2025-2026 school year. Donlan, who has interests in government and finance, reported that 55% of students are participating in fall athletics and highlighted several new initiatives including the school's MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Supports) program and upcoming back-to-school night scheduled for September 11th.
The committee approved the annual sixth-grade trip to Camp Bournedale, continuing a 37-year tradition of outdoor education despite ongoing uncertainty about the camp's future operations. The trip, costing approximately $550 per student, will take place in late April and early May 2026 for the school's two sixth-grade teams. Principal Beattie noted that the camp has maintained the same pricing as last year and continues to implement feedback from students to improve the educational experience.
Several significant donations were accepted by the committee, including $1,000 from Coastal Heritage Bank for the METCO program's HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) tour, and multiple donations totaling $4,460 for the iExcel program's Walt Disney World trip. The iExcel donations came from Coastal Heritage Bank ($2,960), Fidelity Bank and the O'Keefe family ($1,000), and Mark and Erin Popeleski ($500).
The committee also approved their 2025-2026 meeting calendar, with one notable change moving the September 22nd meeting to September 29th in observance of Rosh Hashanah. The calendar includes several concentrated meeting periods, particularly during budget season in February with three consecutive meetings scheduled, and again in March with three meetings planned.
Committee members discussed the need to schedule presentations on new district initiatives, including updates on the middle school schedule changes and the elementary math curriculum implementation. They also briefly addressed the upcoming Massachusetts Association of School Committees annual meeting, with early bird registration ending September 11th.
Chair Nicole Brandolini mentioned that the district's website is still being updated and that meeting calendars and information will be posted once technical updates are completed. The committee noted they will work with central office staff to ensure meeting information is readily accessible to the public.
Looking ahead, committee members expressed interest in receiving detailed reports on various new programs and schedule changes implemented this year, particularly seeking feedback on how these initiatives are impacting students and staff as the school year progresses.
Why It Matters
The substitute nurse pay increase directly affects the district's ability to maintain required health services during staff absences and field trips. Without adequate substitute coverage, the district could face situations where educational opportunities like field trips might need to be cancelled, or where schools operate with reduced health service capacity during regular nurse absences.
Meeting Minutes
Key Motions & Votes
Motion: Approve school committee calendar for 2025-2026 as amended (removing May town meeting date and confirming April 13th spring town meeting). Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 9:08)
Motion: Approve in-state field trip to Camp Bournedale for Team A (April 27 - May 1, 2026) and Team B (May 4-8, 2026). Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 12:10)
Motion: Approve nurse substitute pay rate change to $35 per hour. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 16:06)
Motion: Accept $1,000 donation from Coastal Heritage Bank for METCO HBCU trip. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 19:53)
Motion: Accept donations totaling $4,460 for iExcel Walt Disney trip. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 19:58)
Public Comment
No public comment period was held during this meeting. The meeting began after executive session.
What's Next
The committee will schedule presentations on new district initiatives including middle school schedule changes and elementary math curriculum updates. The policy subcommittee will begin meeting to review existing policies and distribute policy packets to committee members. A financial forecast meeting is scheduled for October 8th to continue preliminary budget discussions for the next school year.