LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — Fayette County Public Schools has ended its nearly 50-year contract with the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department to provide school health services.
This change will include the employment of school nurses in all Fayette County Public Schools.
FCPS has chosen Maxim Healthcare Services as its new partner for the 2024-2025 school year.
LEX 18 reached out to the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department after receiving multiple reports from affected school nurses. Kevin Hall released the following statement:
We have been notified that the health department was not selected for school health services for the upcoming year. Any additional information would need to come from FCPS. We are proud of the work we have provided Fayette County for almost 50 years and look forward to continuing our mission of helping Lexington be well.
Fayette County Public Schools released the following statement regarding the change:
"FCPS has selected another vendor to provide nursing staff services for all schools starting July 1, 2024. This contract is for one year, ending June 30, 2025, and has an option to renew. This decision came after an RFP process that included a bid, technical proposal and interview from several companies/organizations. This included Lexington Fayette County Health Department. The bid document is attached and will be added to the board agenda for the December 4, 2023 meeting. The number of nurses impacted by this decision is between 54-58. The new vendor, Maxim, has shared with FCPS that they are willing to interview and hire the current nursing staff members, if they are interested in staying with the current school where they serve. While this is ending a nearly 50-year relationship with LFCHD, FCPS is in no way compromising student health care or employee access to employment."
According to the health department website, school nurse services include:
- assessing and treating students with acute illnesses and injuries
- providing mandatory vision screening in targeted grades
- serve as a resource for students and staff related to communicable diseases and chronically ill students
- coordinate care and student emergency action plans
- review immunization records in compliance with Kentucky laws
- administer medication per physical order
- promote health education
