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Brenham ISD Child Nutrition Department

1301 Niebuhr
Brenham, TX  77833
Phone: 979-277-3750
Fax: 979-277-3751

Accommodating Students with Dietary Needs

REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION
The Texas Department of Agriculture has set forth the following guidelines for accommodating children with special dietary needs.

A Physician’s Request for Dietary Accommodations Form must:

  • Be signed by a licensed physician
  • Identify the child’s disability
  • Include an explanation of why the disability restricts the child’s diet
  • Identify the major life activity affected by the disability
  • List the food or foods to be omitted from the child’s diet and the food or choice of foods that must be substituted

All requests should be on the Brenham ISD Physician's Request for Dietary Accommodations Form located on the Brenham ISD website to reduce delays. 

NOTE: Brenham ISD Child Nutrition may make substitutions at our discretion on a case-by-case basis for students who do not have a disability but who are medically certified as having a special medical or dietary need.  This provision covers those students who have food intolerances or allergies but do not have life-threatening reactions (anaphylactic reactions) when exposed to the food(s) to which they have problems.  
All documentation should be given to the school nurse first who will then send it to the Child Nutrition Department. Dietary accommodations will be arranged once Child Nutrition receives and processes the request. During high volume times of the year, it may take up to 2 weeks for accommodations to begin. 

NOTE: Dietary accommodations that require the purchase of specific items may not be available immediately.  It may take up to 4 weeks to receive the first delivery of special order.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT
Kasandra Davis, MS, RD, LD
Director of Child Nutrition
kdavis@brenhamk-12.net
Phone: 979-277-3750


DISTRIBUTION OF RESPONSIBILITY

Parents/ Guardians

  • Provide a physician's request for dietary accommodations form to the school nurse, making sure that all information is completely filled out as listed on page 1.
    NOTE: If the physician’s order contains any statements requiring further clarification, special dietary accommodations will not begin until the physician provides further written clarification.
  • Provide updated physician's orders as necessary. Give the school nurse a written statement signed by the physician when accommodations are no longer needed. Dietary accommodations cannot be changed prior to receiving updated documentation from the physician.
  • Work with the school nurse and child nutrition dietitian to review and return modified menus as soon as possible.
  • NOTE: Modified menus will not be implemented until approval is received.  It is advised that parents/ guardians provide meals for their student until accommodations are in place.
  • Physician’s diet orders must be renewed every school year. Please provide an updated Physician’s statement to the school nurse during the summer, prior to the beginning of school.  Remember that there may be a delay of up to 4 weeks if special purchases are required.


School Nurse

  • Send the Physician’s Request for Dietary Accommodations form to the Child Nutrition Department Attention: Kasandra Davis, MS, RD, LD by email: kdaivs@brenhamk-12.net
  • Serve as liaison between the Child Nutrition Department and the parents/ guardians to gather required information and physician documentation.


 Child Nutrition

What we can do:

  • Provide meals which to the best of our knowledge meet the physician’s ordered dietary restrictions.
  • Work with the parents/guardians and school nurse to adjust the diet as updated physician’s orders are received.
  • Post an alert on our Point-of-Sale System.
  • Provide accommodations for non-disabled students with medical conditions on a case by case basis.

What we cannot do:

  • Interpret, revise, or change a diet order for students with disabilities.
  • Provide dietary accommodations for students without a valid medical condition.
  • Provide dietary accommodations without the proper physician’s documentation.
  • Provide dietary accommodations for students seeking preference or religious requests. 
  • Provide fruit juice as a milk substitute for non-disability students.