Special Programs at Brannen

Resource - Chris Moore / Special Education - Alexandra Edinger

BISD provides special education services for all identified eligible handicapped students residing in the district. At the elementary school, services are provided for students who have learning problems or handicaps. These services are provided through the Early Childhood class for preschoolers and Resource, Content Mastery, and in Self-Contained classes for school age students. Services are also provided in Speech Therapy, Music Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Physical Therapy for students who qualify.
Referrals for special education may be made by parents or teachers. Parents may request a referral through the child's teacher. The teacher will notify the parent or guardian when he/she makes a referral on a student.
No student can be tested for special education or placed in a class without parent permission.

Creative Education Institute ( CEI)
Holly Blackhurst, CEI teacher and Diane Libersat, and Phyllis Alonzo CEI instructional aides. Students qualifying for reading assistance are serviced through the CEI computer reading program. They are screened and must meet eligibility requirements for the program in order to attend.

Counseling
Our campus is served by Paula Nordt, a certified elementary counselor. The elementary counseling program is designed to help the student with educational, social, and individual needs and concerns. The program offers services in three general areas. The counselor works with students individually, in small groups, and in classroom settings. The counselor also coordinates programs and activities to meet the needs of students. The counselor may be reached by contacting the school office.

Health
Our campus is served by Lynne Vandaveer, a full time registered nurse who maintains health data on all students. This data includes the medical history and emergency phone numbers. It is of utmost importance that you notify the nurse of any change that needs to be made in the student's health record.
Students who become ill and/or have an elevated temperature are sent home. The parent, guardian, or designated person on the health card is called to pick up the child. That person must sign the child out through the nurse's office. A note from a parent or a permission form must be completed in the nurse's office before a student can take any medication at school. All medicines must be sent in the original container and labeled with the student's name and will be administered by the nurse.

Please keep your child home from school if he/she has a temperature of 100 degrees or greater or has vomited during the night. It is requested that they do not return to school until fever-free for 24 hours.
The State of Texas requires immunizations for all students in order to attend school. The nurse will review immunization records and request necessary immunizations. A student will not he allowed to enter or remain in school if immunizations are not current.

Students found to have pediculosis (head lice) will be sent home from school with information for treatment and will not be allowed to return until the hair has been treated and all nits (eggs) removed. If a student has missed 3 days of school due to failure to treat or remove nits from the hair, the school district reserves the right to file truancy charges against the parent/guardian for noncompliance with the Texas Compulsory School Attendance Law. A letter will be sent home with students when their class has been examined for pediculosis.