Board discusses therapy‑dog pilot and service‑animal policy; staff to prepare handbook and application

Liz presented a proposed new policy to allow therapy animals on district property and described recommended safeguards and a one‑year pilot of a single therapy dog at one school.

Staff said the policy would be paired with a detailed handbook and application process requiring proof of certification, vaccination records, a use plan, a handler application, insurance coverage and a plan to accommodate students or staff with allergies or who do not want contact with the animal. “We would pilot this program in 1 building for a year, with 1 therapy dog so that we could respond to changes as things occur,” Liz said. The handbook would cover supervision, care, restraint, and steps the district would take in the event of injury or concerns about animal care.

Board members urged the policy be specific to dogs to limit unintended requests for other species; one member recalled past requests involving non‑traditional animals and said being explicit would reduce “drama.” Staff agreed the handbook and application could vet species but said language could be revised to reference dogs if the board preferred. The board also discussed animals used in curriculum — for classroom habitats like hamsters or rabbits — and staff said administrator approval and periodic check‑ins would be added to the handbook to ensure animal welfare and classroom maintenance.

Staff distinguished therapy animals from federally defined service animals and noted the district’s service‑animal policy will align with federal requirements; officials said service animals in the district have been, and typically are, dogs, although very rare exceptions (for example, trained cats) exist. Staff said they would return with handbooks, an application form and explicit pilot language for the board’s first reading.