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Waunakee board approves policy framework to pilot certified therapy dogs in schools
Summary
The board’s policy committee presented a draft policy to permit certified therapy dogs and handlers on a limited, district‑approved basis; the board approved a narrow pilot, requiring district-level approval, advance schoolwide notification, and limiting participation to trained, volunteer handlers.
At its Aug. 11 meeting the Waunakee School District board reviewed a draft policy to permit certified therapy dogs in district schools and approved a narrow implementation approach aimed at a controlled pilot.
Policy presenters said the intent is to support student social-emotional needs while managing safety and communications. Tiffany and Lisa (district staff) described work done with administration and said the proposal would begin “small” — likely one day per week to start — and include an approval checklist at the district level rather than ad hoc building requests. The presenters emphasized the policy would cover certified therapy dogs and trained handlers only, not emotional-support animals.
District staff said they would build protocols for communication, allergy awareness, and scheduling. Emily, the district’s newly hired principal at Heritage, supplied photos and scheduling examples from her prior district; staff said the dog’s schedule there ramped gradually and staff would not expect a full-week schedule at the outset. Insurance checks by district staff found no new cost to the district for volunteer handlers and outside agency handlers; presenters said many therapy-dog visits are provided by volunteers at no charge.
Board members asked about advance notification and scope. Tiffany said notifications would go to parents in the school in advance of visits so families could raise allergy or other health concerns; the presenters said visits would generally be limited to specific offices or supervised spaces rather than free-roaming schoolwide access. Committee members stressed that the policy is specific to trained, certified therapy dogs and their handlers: “This is not like emotional support animals. This is not wide open. This is very specific to trained certified therapy dogs and their handlers.”
The board approved the policy framework by voice vote and directed staff to begin a narrow pilot and to prepare the approval checklist and communications procedures for future board review.
Quote: “This is not like emotional support animals. This is not wide open. This is very specific to trained certified therapy dogs and their handlers.”
Next steps: staff will finalize the district-level approval process and communications checklist and return with implementation details as the pilot begins.
