Laredo ISD outlines new parental-consent procedures under Senate Bill 12; affirms emergency care, expands staff training

Laredo ISD trustees heard district staff describe how the district has implemented parental-consent rules required by Senate Bill 12 and how those requirements interact with emergency care, staff medical training, and ongoing student programs.

The district's nursing and student-support leaders told trustees that the district adopted a consent form based on models from the Texas Association of School Boards and that consents were distributed to students on Aug. 25 to comply with the law's effective date. "Written parental consent was required to provide any health service effective Sept. 1," Laredo ISD assistant superintendent for student support services Maggie Martinez said. The district later used draft TEA guidance issued Sept. 11 to refine which services require written consent.

Why it matters: Trustees asked whether the new paperwork could interfere with care in emergencies and whether dual-enrollment arrangements with Laredo College require separate consent forms. Staff said legal advice and nursing practice guide how to balance parental rights and student safety.

District staff explained two practical effects of the guidance. First, the district classifies noninvasive general caretaking (for example, applying a bandage, wiping a bloody nose, checking a forehead) as not requiring written parental consent. Second, TEA's draft guidance and the district's legal advice define certain services'including psychological or psychiatric examination or treatment and invasive procedures'as requiring written consent and, for some procedures, a doctor's order.

"There is an emergency. There's no consent required. And if it's a life saving measure, nurses don't need a consent. They wouldn't move forward," district health presenter Ale Pena told trustees when asked about life-or-death situations.

District counts and follow-up: Staff said campuses began collecting consent forms the week of Aug. 25; by the Sept. 11 TEA update 13 campuses had reached full return rates and the district reported 18 parents had explicitly declined health services for their children. Pena said many parents who initially declined changed their minds after staff explained the limited scope of the health-services consent and other required consents such as for vaccines.

Trustees asked about students who participate in Laredo College dual-enrollment courses held off LISD campuses. Pena said district staff told college instructors that LISD would provide copies of the district consent form to students enrolled at Laredo College and said she would follow up to confirm whether the college requires a second consent form for care occurring on the college campus.

IT flag, Skyward follow-up: Trustees asked whether the District Information System (Skyward) could flag students without returned consent forms so nurses and staff know at arrival. Amber Gomez (IT) said the vendor can add a Skyward field to show missing consent if the district identifies the field to create. "All we have to do is identify that 1 field, and they'll create the flag," Gomez said.

Staff medical training, kits and Naloxone: The district will provide CPR/AED, first-aid and Stop the Bleed training on the Oct. 13 staff-development day for designated staff (marching-band directors, PE instructors, coaches, special-education staff, campus crisis teams and others). Pena said every campus has at least two Stop the Bleed kits (secondaries generally have more) and that trainers and high-school contest hosts are supplied with additional kits. Regarding naloxone (Narcan), Pena said, "Every campus has Narcan," explaining that Narcan is stored in AED boxes and offered to staff who choose to accept it after training; community partners supply training and some of the medication.

Nursing coverage: Trustees pressed staff about campuses temporarily using certified nursing assistants (CNAs) or health aides while vacancies are filled. Staff said CNAs and medical assistants are trained and delegated tasks by a registered nurse, and substitute registered nurses are used while full hires are processed. The district said it is working to fill vacancies quickly and to ensure RN supervision or standby coverage where needed.

Little Medical School and next steps: The district launched its Little Medical School this fall for seventh- and eighth-graders; sessions run through Nov. 20 and a graduation is planned for early December. Pena said federal funds currently support the program.

Trustees asked staff to (1) confirm the consent situation for dual-enrollment students at Laredo College, (2) continue working with IT to flag missing consents in Skyward, and (3) provide a quote for portable "jump" first-aid bags and distribute them to band directors/coaches; Pena said she would provide the cost estimate to trustees. Pena and Martinez reiterated that in emergencies nurses will provide life-saving care without waiting for parental permission.

Ending: District officials said they would continue to follow TEA guidance as it is finalized, maintain communication with higher-education partners about consents for off-campus programs, and return to trustees with implementation updates and any recommended policy amendments.