SISD Public Notices
The Socorro Independent School District is dedicated to providing a comprehensive, quality education for all students in the District and to offer parents the resources and knowledge to help their children succeed in our schools. In addition, the District is committed to keeping parents and community members informed on services, procedures and regulations that the District must abide by at the state and federal level. As such, please see the following public notices from the Socorro Independent School District.
SPECIAL EDUCATION/ CHILD FIND The Socorro Independent School District provides services for children who are eligible for special education. Eligible special education students will be afforded a free, appropriate public education beginning on their third birthday and continuing through their 21st year. Children who are identified as auditorially impaired, visually impaired or deaf-blind may be served from birth through 21 years of age. The Socorro Independent School District provides special education and related services to students residing within the District boundaries. A student with a disability must meet eligibility guidelines in one or more areas including physical disability, mental retardation, emotional disturbance, learning disability, autism, speech disability, traumatic brain injury, visual or auditory impairment. This impairment must significantly affect the student’s ability to progress adequately without support services. If a child is experiencing learning difficulties, the parent may contact the person listed below to learn about the district’s overall general education referral or screening system for support services. This system links students to a variety of support options including referral for special education evaluation. Students having difficulty in the regular classroom should be considered for tutorial, compensatory, and other support services that are available to all students. At any time, a parent is entitled to request an evaluation for special education services. Within a reasonable amount of time, the district must decide if the evaluation is needed. If the evaluation is needed, the parent will be notified and asked to provide consent for the evaluation. The district must complete the evaluation and the report within 60 calendar days of the date the district received the written consent. The district must give a copy of the report to the parent. If the District determines that the evaluation is not needed, the district will provide the parent with a written notice that explains why the child will not be evaluated. This written notice will include a statement that informs the parent of their rights if they disagree with the district. Additionally, the notice must inform the parent how to obtain a copy of the Notice of Procedural Safeguards-Rights of Parents of Students with Disabilities. For more information, contact the Director of Special Education, Leslie Armbruster (915) 937-4300 at 12440 Rojas Dr.
STUDENT RECORDS Access to any personally identifiable student records will be available to the parents or adult students. If material in the records includes information relating to other students, the parent only has the right to review and inspect the information relating to their student. Personally identifiable information in the records may be released without the written consent of the student’s parents to school officials, including teachers who have legitimate educational interests. Those individuals with legitimate interests would include anyone providing educational or supportive services to that student. The school must maintain a record of access that indicates all individuals, agencies, or organizations that requested or obtained access to the students‚ educational records. Confidentiality of personally identifiable information in collection, storage, disclosure and destruction or records is protected for all students in the District. The Socorro Independent School District also abides by all business associate requirements related to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA). Confidentiality requirements apply to the records of non-disabled and disabled students. Information may be withheld by request if parents or eligible students (18 years or older) request in writing that they want directory-type information withheld from public information. Directory-type information includes the student’s name, phone number, and address. For more information or to request withdrawal of information from public information documents, contact Patrick O’Neill, 12440 Rojas Dr., or call (915) 937-0053.
NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATION The Socorro Independent School District offers career and technology and special education in a wide variety of programs. Admission to these programs is based on age, grade level, or need for services. It is the policy of the District not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, or disability in its career and technology and special education programs, services or activities as required by Title IX of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; the Age Discrimination Act of 1972, as amended. The Socorro Independent School District will take steps to assure that a lack of English language skills will not be a barrier to admission and participation in all special education and career and technical education programs. For information on your rights or grievance procedures contact the Department of Human Resources (915) 937-0000, the Director of Career and Technical Education, George Thomas (915) 937-0000, the Director of Special Education, Leslie Armbruster (915) 937-4300 or the Director of Bilingual Education, Jennifer Davila (915) 937-0520 at 12440 Rojas Dr.
§504 Child Find Notice Pursuant to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the District has a duty to identify, refer, evaluate and if eligible, provide a free, appropriate public education to disabled students. For additional information about the rights of parents of eligible children, or for answers to any questions you might have about identification, evaluation and placement into Section 504 programs, please contact the District’s Director of Special Education, Leslie Armbruster (915) 937-4300 or the Director of Bilingual Education, Jennifer Davila (915) 937-0520 at 12440 Rojas Dr.
ASBESTOS MANAGEMENT PLAN NOTIFICATION The Socorro Independent School District, in compliance with government regulations requiring the development of a written plan for the management of asbestos containing materials (ACM) in schools, has completed and updated Management Plans for all facilities in the District. School districts nation-wide have expended a great amount of effort and a substantial number of dollars in identifying materials in our buildings which may contain even small amounts of asbestos. Many of these materials are the same materials we have in our homes; some are located in areas not accessible to students or teachers; others are covered with protective coverings, which restrict direct access. The intent of the governmental requirements is to identify these materials and develop a written document dealing with the ways of managing them to ensure that they continue to be non-threatening. This document is available as a reference for public inspection by parents and employees, should they so desire. Copies can be made for which the District will charge a reasonable cost. The Management Plan is available for inspection during normal business hours at either the administrative office of the school or at District Operations. The contact person is Rafael Padilla Jr. and he may be reached at (915) 937-0719 or rpadil05@sisd.net
12440 Rojas Drive, El Paso, TX 79928 - (915) 937-0000
