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Policy committee advances first reads on service and therapy animal rules for staff
Summary
The policy committee presented first reads for three policies (including drafts referenced as 3220 and 3220f) to clarify requirements for service animals and staff therapy animals; discussion focused on certification, vaccination records, and personal liability insurance for handlers.
The board's policy committee presented first-read drafts of three separate policies addressing service and therapy animals in district facilities, including drafts referenced in discussion as 3220 and 3220f. Committee members said the drafts are intended to distinguish service animals (which are addressed by federal and state law) from staff-owned therapy animals and to create a consistent district practice.
Under the proposed drafts, staff members who bring therapy dogs into district buildings would be required to provide certification documentation, vaccination records, and proof of personal liability insurance; the district would reserve the right to refuse an animal on a case-by-case basis. The administration told the board it had coordinated with the district's insurer and that the suggested personal-liability limit discussed in committee was $1 million, although the administration said it found examples recommending higher coverage in some cited settlements.
Committee members asked that the administration distribute the policy text and a staff reminder to principals and staff before the vote at the next meeting. The committee also assigned a named district contact to collect and verify paperwork annually so principals are not the sole point of enforcement.
