Parents urge Uvalde CISD to expand nursing and staff training for students with medical needs

Multiple parents and guardians told the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District board during the public comment period that the district lacks consistent nursing coverage and staff training needed to support students with complex medical needs and 504 or special-education accommodations.

Selena Vasquez told the board that a district staff member’s remark that her child "looked normal" during a meeting was hurtful and demonstrated a need for staff sensitivity training; she offered to help the district develop training materials. David Fuente said private-duty nursing gaps have kept his daughter home because the campus lacks staff trained to provide required nursing care; he cited federal obligations for providing necessary nursing care to ensure a free appropriate public education for disabled students.

Parents asked the board to extend training beyond teachers to include frontline staff and to create clear procedures for when private nursing coverage is unavailable. Trustees acknowledged the comments and directed the superintendent to follow up and provide an overview of actions taken; Trustee Rizzo specifically asked administrators to report back on how concerns would be addressed.