Employees of the Hall County School System who hold valid CPR and AED certificates will receive a $50 stipend as part of a stipulation made in the recently-approved F.Y. 2018 school district budget.
Superintendent Will Schofield, in a news release sent to local media Thursday evening, said the budget will set aside $50,000 in hopes that 1,000 staff members will eventually hold the two "life-saving certifications."
“We know that the first fifteen minutes after a heart event often is what determines life or death," he said. "We will continue to encourage students and staff members to learn these lifesaving skills."
Schofield added: "I thank our board of education for supporting this ongoing initiative."
School system spokeman Gordon Higgins said the system's District Co-ordinator of Health Services, Mamie Coker, will serve as the "point person" on the project.
"Over the past several years," he explained, "she has conducted CPR training and certification of staff to become potential 'life savers' for family, friends, fellow students, and members of the community."
Coker will continue to assist in the training and certification of school system employees, helping the district grow the number of certified individuals who work on-site at county schools.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2017/5/535645/fy2018-budget-gives-stipend-to-cpr-aed-trained-hall-co-school-employees