Casa Grande board approves animals-in-schools regulation, HVAC funding; celebrates staff, expands free meals and preschool offerings

The Casa Grande Elementary School District governing board unanimously approved a revised animals-in-schools regulation and authorized $122,000 to replace the COIL media center HVAC at its year-end meeting, and members heard district updates on free meals, transportation technology and early childhood expansion.

The regulation change followed public comment and student testimony from Lucy Soderberg, a COIL student who told the board her class has been training a therapy dog and that the district removed the animal because no policy was in place. "We really hope we're able to get them back so that we can continue training," Soderberg said before the board voted to adopt the regulation.

Why it matters: The policy decision restores a formal process for animals on campus, potentially allowing student-led projects such as the COIL therapy-dog program to resume under district rules. The HVAC authorization is intended to restore climate control in a campus learning space and return the media center to regular use. Board action also cemented districtwide operational changes announced by staff, including universal free meals for enrolled students and the planned arrival of electric buses.

Board action and key votes

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