'Not Sustainable': Elmhurst D-205 Sees Big Hike In Nurse Costs

ELMHURST, IL – The Elmhurst School District 205 board this week approved a 16 percent increase in its nursing contract.

One board member said the situation was "not sustainable."

The district contracts with Elmhurst Hospital to staff each school with a nurse. Next year's costs are set at $1.7 million, a $230,000 hike from this year.

Officials attributed the increase to rising wages for nurses. That is the same for other categories of workers.

In recent months, the school district has approved raises for teacher's aides and a wage-driven contract increase for the bus company.

District 205 is believed to be the only school district in the area to have a nursing contract with a hospital.

"It seems like this will be an issue for us every year," board member Courtenae Trautmann said. "Is there a pathway to becoming independent of this situation?"

Assistant Superintendent Kevin Rubenstein said the district planned to look at its options for nursing over the next six months. That would result in a recommendation to the school board in the fall, he said.

Trautmann said she was glad the district was thinking about its long-term plan.

"This is not sustainable," she said. "I think we can all agree on that."

The board unanimously voted for the increase. Only four members were at the meeting. The other three – Jim Collins, Karen Stuefen and Chris Kocinski – were absent.