Written requests for public information must be given in one of the following forms:

*Mailed to:     Smyer ISD

                         PIA Requests

                         P.O. Box 206

                         Smyer, Texas 79367

*Emailed to:      pia.request@smyer-isd.net  (copy and paste into your email)

*Hand delivered to the district office secretary.

Smyer ISD will only respond to requests for information that follow the above forms.

You as a parent or guardian have the fundamental right to make decisions regarding the upbringing and control of your child. Our goal as a school is to be a supportive partner in that effort, providing effective academic instruction to maximize student learning. In service of that goal, we also work to support the general well-being of our students so they can remain academically focused.  School personnel are always expected to encourage your child to discuss any issues related to their wellbeing with you. School personnel can also facilitate a conversation between you and your child about any issues related to their wellbeing. Furthermore, employees are expected to keep parents informed related to observations of their child’s mental, emotional, or physical health. You have the right to access your child’s education and health records at any time. As you might expect, teachers and other employees will periodically inquire about a child’s well-being, (e.g., asking how a student is feeling). In some cases, though, more formalized efforts may be appropriate, and if that is the case, our intent is to work in ways that are consistent with your goals as the parent.  If school personnel determine that a student needs some additional structured observation – called monitoring – we will notify you. Our school offers a variety of health-related and health care services to each student.

Health Services

This notice is meant to inform you of all available health-related services we offer, not necessarily to indicate any of these services will be provided to your child.  Health-related services offered to students may consist of the following: 

• Measurement of vital signs
• First aid and injury evaluation and treatment
• Monitoring and treatment of chronic health conditions (e.g, asthma, diabetes)
• Under the influence assessment
• Lice screening, education, and support
• Vision, hearing, and spinal screenings
• Heat illness prevention and injury support
• Services related to athletic training
• Health education:  educating students and parents on various health topics, including disease prevention, healthy lifestyles, and managing chronic conditions.
• Referrals to community resources:  connecting students and families with community healthcare providers and social services.

You have the right to opt out of and withhold consent for any of these services for your child. To opt out of and withhold consent for any of these services, please complete the Health Services Withdrawal of Consent form. This form will also allow you to update consent preferences in the future.

Certain health-related services will be offered to students when applicable only with separate, written consent from and/or coordination with parents, unless during an emergency or as allowed by law. Examples of these services are listed below:

• Treatment of chronic health conditions
• Administration of over-the-counter or prescription medications in accordance with law
• Puberty education (fifth-grade students only)

General caretaking is not considered a health-related service or health-care service subject to SB12. School employees shall provide general care to all students. General caretaking includes noninvasive actions to address minor student claims of feeling unwell or adult observations of a child being physically unwell, such as cleaning spills or other accidents, offering a change of clothing if necessary, and providing support that an adult would typically provide to support a child's expressions of being unwell (e.g. feeling a student's forehead, checking for a swollen throat, etc.) It also includes minor student care actions such as applying adhesive bandages (e.g. band aids), wiping a bloody nose, etc. By law, general caretaking will be provided to all students.

In the event of a life-threatening event, life-saving services will be rendered by school staff, regardless of consent status.

Please note: If you decline certain health-related services and your child travels with the school as part of a field trip, competitive event, or other activity, you may be required to be physically present to provide health-related services to your child, or, your child may not be eligible to travel with the school.

Counseling Services

This notice is meant to inform you of counseling health-related services we offer, not necessarily to indicate any of these services will be provided to your child. Counseling health-related services offered to students may be offered through individual sessions and/or small group settings. The skills and topics routinely covered in these individual and/or small group sessions could include: 

• Early mental health prevention and intervention
• Building skills related to managing emotions, establishing and maintaining positive relationships, and responsible decision-making
• Positive behavior interventions and supports
• Safe, supportive, and positive school climate

You have the right to opt out of and withhold consent for individual and/or small group counseling for your child. To opt out of and withhold consent for any of these services, please complete the Counseling Services Withdrawal of Consent form. This form will also allow you to update consent preferences in the future.

Certain counseling health-related services will be offered to students when applicable only with separate, written consent from and/or coordination with parents, unless during an emergency or as allowed by law. Examples of these services are listed below:

• “Psychological or psychiatric examination or test” as a method designed to elicit information regarding an attitude, habit, trait, opinion, belief, feeling, or mental disorder or a condition thought to lead to a mental disorder, regardless of the manner in which the method is presented or characterized, including a method that is presented or characterized as a survey, check-in, or screening or is embedded in an academic lesson.
• “Psychological or psychiatric treatment” means the planned, systematic use of a method or technique that is designed to affect behavioral, emotional, or attitudinal characteristics of an individual or group.

Certain counseling services are required by state law. These include:

• A guidance curriculum to help students develop their full educational potential, including the student's interests and career objectives. 
• A responsive services component to intervene on behalf of any student whose immediate personal concerns or problems put the student's continued educational, career, personal, or social development at risk. 
• An individual planning system to guide a student as the student plans, monitors, and manages the student's own educational, career, personal, and social development. 
• System support to support the efforts of teachers, staff, parents, and other members of the community in promoting the educational, career, personal, and social development of students. 

School districts must also implement the following practices as necessary, consent for which cannot be declined:

1. School district emergency responses;  
2. Law enforcement or Department of Family and Protective Services activities;  
3. Behavioral threat assessment required by law; or  
4. Other rights or duties required by law, including the Texas Family Code.  

In the event of a life-threatening event, life-saving services will be rendered by school staff, regardless of consent status.