Board approves advanced-courses enrollment update, withdraws service- and therapy-dog policies for later review

The Franklin SSD Board of Education on Monday approved changes to the district’s enrollment-in-advanced-courses policy and postponed action on two animal-related policies after administrators discovered incorrect documents had been provided.

The approved reading updates policy 4.205 to add Introduction to Aerospace to the high school course list and clarifies that the wait list process does not apply to Algebra I for incoming ninth graders, the administration said during the reading. No board changes were requested and the administration recommended approval.

Separately, two new policies — one titled Service Animals in District Facilities (3.218) and another titled Therapy Dog Program (3.2181) — were pulled from the agenda. Administrators said both policies originated from the Tennessee School Boards Association (TSBA) but that the copies distributed to board members were incorrect or mismatched. Board members agreed to retract the earlier vote and to bring both policies back for readings at the July meeting so the correct documents can be reviewed.

Board members clarified differences between the two policies: the service-animal policy applies to individuals with a diagnosed need who require a service animal, while the therapy-dog program is a broader program intended to serve students and staff with parental approval and opt-outs for families who do not wish their children to participate.

The board did not adopt either animal policy at the meeting and scheduled both for reconsideration in July.