SC district couldn’t find school nurses. It spent extra $560K to fill needs
Richland School District 1 has a chronic school nursing shortage. At least half a million dollars had to be moved to fill the district’s vacancies this year.
The Columbia school district reallocated $443,272 from the 2025-26 general fund, and another $119,704 from the 2023-24 general fund. It is unclear how many nurses Richland 1 need at the beginning of the academic year, but Richland 1 still has two open nursing positions.
“The preferred option is always to hire a teacher for a vacancy or a person for a vacancy,” Richland 1 Superintendent Todd Walker said at a recent board meeting. “However, we do recognize that school’s have needs and students need to receive services ... there is a fine balance.”
District spokesperson Ilyssa Weiner said $410,000 was originally budgeted for nursing services.
It is cheaper to hire individuals, rather than through a third party. But Eunice Jones, the district’s nursing services coordinator, told school board members it can be difficult to fill the jobs in a nursing job market.
School nurses work five days a week, with less flexibility than other nurses, who traditionally work three 12-hour shifts. School nurses are also generally paid less than others, Jones said. Those who do eventually choose a school nursing job are further in their careers and ready for more stability, Jones said.
“(It’s) harder now than it has ever been,” Jones said.
Richland 1 has cyclically moved money to cover nursing vacancies through contracted services.
On July 10, the district paid Amergis Healthcare Staffing $175,000 for supplemental agency nurses to fill vacancies, and paid Consolidated Staffing another $80,000 for temporary, licensed, registered school nurses.
The district experienced “unforeseen” nursing vacancies last year too, when it had to reallocate $341,000 to cover needs in December 2024, school board member Ericka Hursey pointed out. Another sum of money — $250,000 — was requested for contracted services in June.
Richland has long struggled with recruitment. In 2024, it had some of the highest teacher vacancies in the state. It currently has 79 teaching positions open.
Richland 1 isn’t alone. Only about 65% of schools have access to a full-time nurse, according to the most recent study by the National Association of School Nurses.
But neighboring districts don’t seem to be experiencing the same struggles.
The nursing team at Lexington-Richland 5 is fully staffed this year, with at least one nurse per school. The growing district may soon explore the need for additional staff, spokesperson Amanda Taylor said, but is not currently considering outside agencies for staffing.
The same goes for Lexington 2, according to district officials.
Lexington 1 had one vacancy. But spokesperson Libby Roof said it was being filled.
Reporters Bristow Marchant and Hannah Wade contributed to this report.
This story was originally published November 4, 2025 at 6:33 AM.
