Disabled Patchogue teen may lose nursing service in funding dispute

A wheelchair-bound Patchogue student could be without a nurse if an agreement is not reached between the school district and the agency that provides the care. Kimberly Leitke, 17, was born with a neurological

News 12 Staff

Jan 20, 2006, 11:23 PM

Updated 6,891 days ago

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A wheelchair-bound Patchogue student could be without a nurse if an agreement is not reached between the school district and the agency that provides the care.
Kimberly Leitke, 17, was born with a neurological disease that restricts her to a wheelchair. Carolyn Leitke, Kimberly's mother, says that for the past six years a nurse has accompanied her daughter to school. The nurse is paid for by the Patchogue-Medford School District, which reduced payments earlier this month after district officials claim they overpaid the previous year.
Officials from the Christian Nursing Agency say they have been footing the bill since the district cut funding and they are owed thousands more. Carolyn said she was informed that February 9 would be the last day the agency would provide a nurse if the situation did not change. She contends that her daughter will be unable to attend school without the aid of a nurse.