Parent urges Midland ISD to educate on laser danger after daughter's retinal injury
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Summary
A parent told the board his daughter suffered a retinal burn after a laser pointer was shined in her eye at school; he urged the district to educate staff and students, document incidents and encourage medical assessments and review under disciplinary and legal frameworks.
At the Sept. 16 board meeting a parent described a multi‑year medical episode involving his daughter that district staff said may have originated when a laser pointer was directed at the child while she was in elementary school.
The parent said the daughter experienced blurry vision and, after referral to a specialist, underwent a treatment that included a retinal injection; follow‑up imaging showed a retinal burn at the site consistent with a laser injury. "She had a retinal burn," the parent told trustees and offered to provide copies of the retinal scans.
He urged the district to educate students, parents and staff about the medical dangers and legal consequences of pointing laser devices at people and asked that campuses document incidents, encourage medical assessment for affected students and review incidents under disciplinary and legal frameworks.
Board response: Trustees expressed sympathy and asked whether the parent would be willing to help lead an awareness effort; the parent agreed. The presiding officer asked staff to collect the parent’s materials, review the incident and follow up with him.
Ending: Administration committed to follow up with the parent and to bring details back to the board if appropriate.