Health Services

• Runny nose - is the way many children respond to pollen, dust or a cold virus. A minor cold or allergy symptoms should not be a reason to miss school. Many healthy children have as many as six colds per year, especially in the early school years. A child should say home if he or she is too uncomfortable to complete work and participate in other school activities.
• Coughing - especially if it is persistent during the day, can indicate a worsening of cold or allergy symptoms. It may be a sign of secondary infection (sinusitis, pneumonia), which may require medical treatment. It may also indicate mild asthma. If your child's cough is worse than you might expect with a common cold, you need to consult your child's doctor. You should do so immediately if the child is not acting normal, has a fever or has difficulty breathing.
• Diarrhea and vomiting - make children uncomfortable. It could be very uncomfortable and embarrassing for your child to have another episode while in school. Must stay home until they are diarrhea/vomiting free without diarrhea/vomiting suppressing medications for 24 hours.
• Fever - (100 degrees Fahrenheit of higher) is an important symptom - especially when it occurs along with a sore throat, nausea or a rash. Your child could have a contagious illness, which could be passed to classmates and teachers. While you can treat the fever, and usually make the child feel better temporarily, the cause of the fever (and the risk of passing it to others) is still there. Children with fever should stay home until there is no fever for 24 hours (without taking Tylenol, Motrin, Advil, etc.)
• Sore throat - consult your child’s doctor for advice regarding diagnosis and treatment. A child should stay home if they are too uncomfortable to complete work and participate in other school activities. If diagnosed with strep throat, a child may not return to school until 24-48 hours after the first dose of antibiotics was given and is fever free.
• Pinkeye (conjunctivitis) - can be caused by a virus, bacteria or allergy. The first 2 are very contagious. The eye will be reddened and a cloudy or yellow discharge is usually present. The eye may be sensitive to light. Consult with your child’s doctor to see if antibiotic eye drops are needed. Again, the child should stay home until symptoms subside and the child has been on antibiotic eye drops for at least 24 hours or until the doctor recommends the child return to school.
• Middle ear infections - can cause great discomfort and often fever, but are not contagious to others. The child should see his doctor for diagnosis and treatment and should stay home if there is fever or pain present.
• Flu - is a contagious virus that usually occurs in the winter months. Symptoms include body aches, high fever, chills, congestion, sore throat, and, in some children, vomiting. The child should stay home until these symptoms improve, usually 5 to 7 days. Consult your child’s doctor for treatment suggestions to make your child more comfortable.
• Skin infection - can be a staph or strep infection that creates a red, oozing blister-like area that can appear anywhere on the body. It can be passed to others by direct contact. Consult your child’s doctor for treatment and length of time the child should remain out of school, especially if the area cannot be covered.

Remember to make sure that your child's school knows how to reach you during the day and that there is a back-up plan and phone number on file if they cannot reach you.

Starting September 1, 2025, and in compliance with Senate Bill 12, in order for your child to be attended to by school nurses for routine health services, parents must complete a Parental Consent for School Health-Related Services. This consent form should be completed for each child enrolled in school. The Governor of Texas signed Senate Bill 12 (SB12), into law on June 20, 2025. As part of this bill, Texas public school districts are required to seek consent from parents prior to providing services to students. For example, before a nurse can apply a bandage or provide other first aid, the district must have parental consent on file.

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 and as nurses is to be a supportive partner. In service of that goal, school nurses work to support the general well-being of our students so they can remain academically focused. As you might expect, nurses 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 a parent.

School nurses are always expected to encourage your child to discuss any issues related to their well-being with you. School nurses can also facilitate a conversation between you and your child about any issues related to their well-being. Furthermore, nurses are expected to keep parents informed related to observations of their child's physical health. You have the right to access your child's education and health records at any time.

The notice below is meant to inform you of all available services offered through campus clinics, not necessarily to indicate all these services will be provided to your child. 

PISD Health Services