[{"_1":2,"_86":-5,"_87":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6379685,"mediaKeyId","2135375-a76c671a4ce3bf76fd4f3b2d6fd45cc1","parentId",2135375,"title","Gateway Middle counselor presents therapy dog Kyla; certification planned Dec. 11","audioSeconds",850,"startMs",790000,"endMs",1640000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2135375-a76c671a4ce3bf76fd4f3b2d6fd45cc1&start=790&end=1640","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2135375-a76c671a4ce3bf76fd4f3b2d6fd45cc1/thumbnail_790000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6379685/Pennsylvania/Gateway-Middle-counselor-presents-therapy-dog-Kyla-certification-planned-Dec-11","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6379685-01339999e0e9476abe51519353e72f50/orig.mp4?Expires=1770952603&Signature=QYMD3zZwAn8kzmff0yW6~wigFOGxE1FVM53fpOmVpoAhVTSr0tnF5gGmMOYvKFEqbJ-Hvsa~RTbFmOrBlbXiVkRlKgt4fvLqo5xeQnn79qJq43pf8eQacDKICW7JuOyoMjTwK2hQ6CJES3wZxubCIr2Qql2iXCTidlG9e-levXMEFwBh2thGfJzi~Wl65HqB7--F3AHXR2aC4QSwh4~1WFMRESWGs1DyQ6w7KhKygdhslMOOGggfHWSj2HI6W2fJd-LXY0wyOs1LX3bbohPKDM5u4VcnSTBfl5x6lpegQnPv1un~AGEzPwrGbG9YowvwYQoovkWoheHpQU8Ur6q4jg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-01-20T16:48:01Z","article","\"Good evening, everybody. My name is Rich Taylor. I'm a counselor a school counselor over at Gateway Middle School,\" Rich Taylor told the board during the Dec. 2 meeting as he introduced Kyla, a therapy dog he is seeking to place in the school counseling suite.

Taylor said Kyla is a Havapoodle (Havanese × miniature poodle mix) and described the handler training and certification process the dog has completed to date. Taylor told the board that Kyla \"did phenomenal pass with flying colors\" on initial observations and that her final observation and certification is scheduled for Dec. 11 at Gateway Middle School, when an evaluator named Gloria will bring other certified dogs and speak to students about therapy-dog handling.

Nut graf: The presentation outlined how the dog would be used as a counseling tool rather than a pet on campus — Taylor said Kyla would be kept in the counseling suite on a fixed four-foot leash while in hallways, crated when unattended, and used in targeted settings including the life-skills classroom, autistic-support classes and intervention groups. Taylor said Kyla is insured through Alliance Dog Therapy (coverage and fees were discussed during the presentation).

Taylor described stepwise training: public outings to stores and libraries, a formal evaluation at a medical facility (required by the certifying program), and additional observations in assisted-living and school settings. He said the final Gateway observation will let students and staff meet multiple therapy dogs and learn handler practices. Taylor said the handler program requires ongoing maintenance: once certified, a therapy dog must take regular appearances (Taylor said roughly every three months) at public sites such as libraries to maintain certification.

Taylor discussed safety and allergen concerns and said staff would mitigate those by keeping Kyla in controlled spaces and not bringing the dog to all meetings. He told the board that Kyla’s insurance premium the trainer referenced was $300 and that the policy includes a $2,000,000 liability limit; the transcript also referenced an additional $10,000 item associated with the certification insurance but did not specify the exact coverage name.

Board members and other attendees asked about student reactions, aggressive-student protocols and logistics. Taylor said counselors and staff know which students might be a risk to an animal and that initial use would be supervised and limited to controlled classroom or counseling settings. He said the dog’s small size and calm temperament make Kyla suitable for lap visits for students who benefit from tactile contact but that staff would not bring Kyla into settings where a student’s safety could be at risk.

Taylor described a speaker series for fifth graders at Gateway Middle School that brings community guests into classrooms; he said the final observation and certification event on Dec. 11 will be scheduled during a school period (around 12:05 p.m.) and invited board members and staff to attend.

Ending: Taylor closed by thanking the board and noting Kyla’s certification schedule and next steps for training and insurance. The board did not take formal action on the presentation during the meeting; Taylor said he would continue the certification process and bring any required policies or formal requests back to the board if necessary.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","SBCM 2024-12-02","oneSentenceSummary","Gateway Middle School counselor Rich Taylor introduced Kyla, a therapy dog in training, and described planned final certification, training requirements and insurance. The board and attendees discussed how Kyla would be used in counseling, classes and special programs.","taxTitle","Gateway SD, School Districts, Pennsylvania","taxId",38796,"location","Pennsylvania","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6379688,"Gateway SD board elects president, approves 2025 calendar, solicitor and Gateway Middle change order",0,2571000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2135375-a76c671a4ce3bf76fd4f3b2d6fd45cc1&start=2571&end=2571","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2135375-a76c671a4ce3bf76fd4f3b2d6fd45cc1/thumbnail_2571000.jpg","/articles/6379688/Pennsylvania/Gateway-SD-board-elects-president-approves-2025-calendar-solicitor-and-Gateway-Middle-change-order","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6379688-f42b7f619b6247f19ddffee85348fe68/orig.mp4?Expires=1770952603&Signature=mKhYtWTUf45cbodGTBJ1NxaIR4AW3FbpH3xXjnLC548NOET2CmHrewK2zonZm0HN6XJc8bAT5o29AMvR1PUNEO23Kvh~z5yArFvwbFgZ6sInbOLBxJEu4fmL~uztUtEUR5YbiwCbKSD2b~usZReYsm4Gon6aj2nBFB9yma62itQOqh9Aqi3rJm5WKCPET2O5hvJjK5O43IlLX1DDol5AT-KOT8ojga78nXmBSwVjD~Xw6NXBGeUZv0VIiCbaIrRCxNru608GGCyhjq56GQ4QVWtBBe9RZFXRUKFA0fKzwTs5bc7VvZYWBU8bHKmXBkIUGn4QWKpJdNvN4HUSBcDQww__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Leslie McBride was elected president of the Gateway SD School Board during the reorganization meeting on Dec. 2, 2024, and the board approved several routine governance and administrative items, including the 2025 school calendar, reappointment of the board solicitor, personnel employment, policy approvals and a construction change order at Gateway Middle School.

The board opened the reorganization session by running a secret ballot to choose a president and then proceeded to standard business for the regular meeting. The board voted to set the 2025 school board calendar as presented and to reappoint Bruce Dice & Associates as board solicitor. Board members approved the list of bills for December 2024, moved personnel employment for one individual, and approved administrative policies and extracurricular items, including policy 249, the Bake Club at Gateway Middle School, and listed conferences.

Nut graf: The meeting combined the annual leadership elections with routine approvals that set the district’s operational framework for the new year. The board also voted to adopt the district’s Act 1 index for the 2025–26 school year and to pay a previously unsubmitted change-order invoice tied to stormwater work at Gateway Middle School.

Among the most significant administrative items, business manager Mike (surname not specified in transcript) reported the Act 1 index for the 2025–26 school year is 5.0, which he said equates to 1.23 mills; he said the district’s intent is not to raise taxes above the existing 25.2718-mill level. The board approved the Act 1 index at the item listed on the agenda.

The meeting included a discussion of a change order for Gateway Middle School tied to an unforeseen stormwater tank and related drainage work. Staff said the work was discovered in November 2021, completed at that time, and that the vendor had not previously submitted the bill. The board approved payment of the outstanding invoice, described in the meeting as about $24,000, and approved the change order.

Board members also discussed federal funding for district programs. The district’s business official said the district receives roughly $8 million to $9 million per year in federal funding for various programs, including special-education funding, and that there is no current definitive information about potential federal-level changes.

The board recorded that it had held an executive session earlier in the evening, from roughly 5:30 p.m. to about 5:55 p.m., for legal and personnel matters. The meeting adjourned after the regular agenda items.

Votes at a glance:
- Election of board president (nominees listed on the floor): outcome — Leslie McBride elected president (by board ballot).
- Set 2025 school board calendar (Motion to set the school board calendar for the 2025 year): approved (voice/roll call recorded as \"Aye\").
- Reappoint Bruce Dice & Associates as board solicitor (Motion to reappoint): approved (voice recorded as \"Aye\").
- List of bills for December 2024 (Item 5.1): approved (roll call recorded as \"Aye\").
- Personnel (Item 6.1 employment of one individual as listed): approved (motion/second and vote recorded as \"Aye\").
- Administrative regulations and policies (Item 7.1 approve policy 249; Item 7.2 approve Bake Club at Gateway Middle School; Item 7.3 approve listed conferences): approved (roll call recorded as \"Aye\").
- Act 1 index for 2025–26 (Item 8.1): approved (board action recorded as approved).
- Change order for Gateway Middle School related to stormwater tank (Item 8.2; invoice described in discussion as about $24,000): approved (board action recorded as approved).
- Minutes approval (two sets of minutes referenced on the agenda): approved (motion/second; voice recorded as \"Aye\").
- Adjournment: approved (voice recorded as \"Aye\").

Ending: The board concluded with holiday remarks and adjourned. The board noted the earlier executive session on legal and personnel matters; no additional public action was announced as a result of that session during the meeting.","At its Dec. 2 reorganization meeting, the Gateway SD School Board elected Leslie McBride president, approved the 2025 school calendar and reappointed board solicitor Bruce Dice & Associates. The board also approved the Act 1 index for 2025–26 and a change order for Gateway Middle School related to an uncovered stormwater tank.","actionData","errors"]

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Gateway Middle counselor presents therapy dog Kyla; certification planned Dec. 11

Gateway SD board elects president, approves 2025 calendar, solicitor and Gateway Middle change order