A new procedure has been developed by the district to answer questions about practices and policies. Those with questions or who would like more information about some aspect of school should contact the superintendent’s office. This strategy is an outgrowth of a suggestion that was made at the annual June planning retreat. The following are the questions or concerns that have been received thus far:

Question: At what time is the official attendance for state purposes taken?
Answer: For state purposes, attendance is taken at 9 am at each campus.

Question: If my child is not present due to a doctor or dentist appoint, will the district still be able to receive state funds for that day for my child.
Answer: If the child brings a note signed by a health care professional, the district will receive funds even though the child was not present at 9 am.

Question: If my child has a staph infection, should I notify the school? Is my child allowed to attend school while the wound is open and draining? Will precautions be taken to make sure that a child with staph is not showering with the general student population?
Answer: Yes, the school should be notified. A child will be allowed to attend school if the wound is properly bandaged. As long as the wound is properly covered, it should be safe for the student to shower with others. To help stop the spread of the infection it is recommended that students practice proper, meticulous hand washing. Once the infection is detected medical help should be sought as quickly as possible and an ointment such as Neosporin be used.

Question: If a student is placed in ISS and/or AEP, will this placement keep him/her from attending a college or university?
Answer: The only records sent to a college or university are those dealing with academic performance. Disciplinary records are not included as a part of these.

Question: I am curious about the meals served in the cafeterias.
Answer: Meals prepared in public school cafeterias must meet state and federal guidelines. Most of these center around fat content and calories. Meals must be analyzed so that they comply with these directives. Our district is a member of the Region 9 Meal Planning Cooperative. The components of our meals and portions served comply with the federal and state regulations.

Question: Why does the district not require random drug/alcohol testing of all employees including teachers?
Answer: Currently, the law will not allow such random drug/alcohol testing. This type of testing of public employees is considered a search under the Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution. The district may not conduct drug tests of employees, without a warrant and without individualized suspicion; unless the test serves special governmental needs that outweigh the individual’s privacy expectation. Therefore, only employees in “safety-sensitive” positions may be included in any employee drug testing program. “Safety-sensitive positions include those that involve the handling of potentially dangerous equipment or hazardous substances in an environment including a large number of children. This translates in practice to providing for only the testing of those employees involved in the transportation of students in school buses. A program of random testing of bus drivers is currently in place for all drivers in Electra ISD.