ABC-7 Listens: San Elizario ISD parent claims school infested with lice

A San Elizario Independent School District parent is claiming his daughter caught lice three times this school year.

“As soon as you picked up her hair you could see it, bad,” he said. “It was something I’ve never seen before.”

This parent doesn’t want his Borrego Elementary sixth-grade daughter to be identified.She’s the only one in the house of four that attends a San Eli school and the only one with lice — her third time in just a matter of months.

“I wish somebody would take care of the problem,” the parent said.

ABC-7 reached out to SEISD to ask about his claims.It said the district has only had three cases, an average for schools. The Center for Disease Control estimates 6-12 million kids get lice every year. Although it’s unpleasant and itchy, it’s not a health hazard, it’s considered a nuisance, which is why a school district doesn’t have to notify the city or county health departments of an infestation.

The district’s spokesperson said there’s no indication of an infestation at Borrego Elementary,but even so, there’s a protocol.

1. The student will go to the nurse’s office

2. Each case of head lice is evaluated individually by the school nurse.

3. If the nurse observes head lice or nits, the parent/guardian is notified and educational/treatment materials are also sent home at the end of the day.

4. If there are three or more cases of lice in one classroom, all parents/guardians with children in that classroom are notified with a letter sent home.”

School districts can’t get on top of a potential infestation if nurses aren’t notified, which is why it’s important to check your kids’ scalps under light or the sun on a regular basis.

San Eli ISD is asking any parent who suspects their child has head lice to call the administration at (915) 872-3900.