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Student-led therapy-dog policy highlighted as board approves consent agenda
Summary
The board approved the consent agenda, which included a policy revision to allow trained therapy animals in schools after students at COIL drafted a policy change to permit licensed therapy dogs; staff said existing insurance did not cover untrained animals.
The Casa Grande Elementary District Governing Board approved its consent agenda, which included a policy revision to allow trained therapy animals in schools. Board members approved the consent agenda by roll call; President Varela, Mr. Stavely, Mrs. Sisson and Mrs. Martinez voted aye.
Principal Scott Raymond and a COIL student named Ellie told the board the change was prompted by COIL students who wanted hands-on learning opportunities involving a therapy dog. Ellie told the board the district's previous policy and insurance did not allow an untrained therapy dog on campus and that students worked with staff to rewrite the policy so the school could train a dog to become a licensed therapy dog. "We had to rewrite the policy because the current, board policy and the insurance did not cover having a untrained therapy dog at school," Ellie said.
Raymond said students Lucy, Brianna and David, along with Ellie, worked with staff members to draft a policy that met district and board interests; the student project led to the item appearing on the consent agenda. The board did not debate the item on the floor after it remained on the consent agenda and the consent motion passed.
The board president and superintendent highlighted the student initiative during the public recognitions portion of the meeting and thanked students and staff for the work. The consent agenda motion passed on a roll-call vote with no recorded no votes or abstentions.
