A Seguin grandmother says what should have been a routine afternoon at A.J. Briesemeister Middle School in February turned into a nightmare for her seventh‑grade grandson, who, she claims, soiled himself after a teacher refused to let him use the bathroom.
Lisa Herrera told reporters her grandson was forced to sit in his soiled clothes for nearly an hour, developed a rash and came home humiliated. She says the family had already given the school a doctor’s note explaining that the student takes medication that affects his bowel control.
As reported by News4SanAntonio, Herrera says repeated calls and emails to Seguin ISD about the February incident have gone unanswered. Her account has parents asking hard questions about how campus staff are handling the line between classroom control and students’ medical needs.
“He knew it was close to the end of school, but he couldn’t hold it anymore,” Herrera told News4SanAntonio. Herrera added that the boy complained of back pain when he arrived home and the family applied Desitin for a rash caused by sitting in soiled clothes. She said the incident left him ashamed and reluctant to tell classmates what had happened.
District handbook bars denying bathroom access
Seguin ISD’s Student/Parent Handbook is clear that basic needs are not up for debate. It explicitly lists “denying adequate sleep, air, food, water, shelter, bedding, physical comfort, supervision, or access to a restroom facility” as a prohibited aversive technique. According to the Seguin ISD Student/Parent Handbook, that language appears in the district’s code of conduct and grievance guidance.
The family says it provided a doctor’s note last year indicating the student’s medication affects his bowel control, a medical detail that can factor into school accommodations. The Texas Education Agency notes that districts may consider Section 504 or IEP-based accommodations when a medical condition limits a major life activity.
Other districts have seen similar controversy
Bathroom-denial incidents have triggered public outrage across Texas. In one notable case, Conroe ISD removed a teacher after first-graders were left to soil themselves at Bartlett Elementary. That episode and the community reaction were covered by removed a teacher and other outlets.
How parents can escalate complaints
Seguin ISD outlines a multi-step Parent/Student Grievance Process, with required forms and an appeals path for families who are not satisfied with informal resolutions. According to Seguin ISD's grievance page, the district also states that it will not unlawfully retaliate against anyone who files a complaint.
Legal implications
If the family’s account is confirmed, the episode could violate the district’s own conduct rules and trigger an administrative review or a Section 504 complaint, particularly given the existence of medical documentation. TEA guidance describes how related services and accommodations are determined and notes that those provisions may form the basis for a formal appeal to district or state officials.
Herrera says she has repeatedly tried to reach Seguin ISD about the February incident, and families say they want clear answers on how staff respond when students cite medical needs. The district did not post a response to the family’s account on its public news pages at the time of the initial reports.
